Cost of Living Comparison Between Caloocan and Cebu Cost of Living Comparison Between Caloocan and Cebu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $671 per month in Caloocan vs $873 in Cebu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,049 per month in Caloocan vs $1,326 in Cebu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,427 per month in Caloocan vs $1,778 in Cebu, rent included.

Caloocan is about 23% cheaper than Cebu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Caloocan and Cebu are more affordable than the global median – Caloocan 50% lower, Cebu 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱216

$4.33 ₱267

-18.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.41 ₱827

$24.14 ₱1,489

-44.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.62 ₱162

$4.36 ₱269

-39.91%

Cappuccino

$1.14 ₱70.1

$2.57 ₱159

-55.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₱28.69

$0.84 ₱52.1

-44.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.36

$0.43 ₱26.36

-11.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₱83.9

$1.53 ₱94.5

-11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$2.11 ₱130

-5.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 ₱114

$2.21 ₱137

-16.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.2

$1.50 ₱92.6

-20.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱61.4

$1.11 ₱68.7

-9.91%

Eggs

$1.95 ₱120

$2.33 ₱144

-16.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.16 ₱133

$13.03 ₱803

-83.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$5.35 ₱330

-47.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.80 ₱358

$7.50 ₱462

-22.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$3.57 ₱220

-44.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 ₱70.9

$1.45 ₱89.4

-20.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 ₱145

$3.39 ₱209

-30.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 ₱75.3

$2.18 ₱134

-44.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 ₱77.6

$2.59 ₱160

-51.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.48 ₱153

-7.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱42.04

$0.92 ₱56.6

-26.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.18

$0.79 ₱48.95

-31.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₱206

$3.11 ₱192

7.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.93 ₱304

$6.52 ₱402

-24.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱63.2

$1.21 ₱74.4

-15.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.32 ₱143

-1.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 ₱12.32

$0.28 ₱17.41

-28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.00 ₱925

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱50.9

$0.84 ₱51.6

-1.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.56

$0.25 ₱15.45

-12.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 ₱151

$2.69 ₱166

-9.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱70.5

$1.09 ₱67.1

4.59%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.6K ₱1.9M

$30.1K ₱1.9M

4.86%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.7K ₱1.3M

$27.0K ₱1.7M

-23.38%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$59.5 ₱3,666

$95.4 ₱5,880

-37.65%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.46 ₱645

$33.83 ₱2,086

-69.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.65 ₱1,643

$29.78 ₱1,836

-10.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.23 ₱323

$32.91 ₱2,029

-84.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.56 ₱281

$8.43 ₱520

-45.91%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ₱353

$5.84 ₱360

-2.05%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$154 ₱9,480

$233 ₱14.3K

-33.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,733 ₱291.9K

$3,894 ₱240.1K

21.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.40 ₱3,046

$53.5 ₱3,297

-7.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.65 ₱1,705

$22.75 ₱1,403

21.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.3 ₱3,346

$76.7 ₱4,729

-29.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.58 ₱2,872

$54.5 ₱3,359

-14.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$290 ₱17.9K

$515 ₱31.8K

-43.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$209 ₱12.9K

26.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$595 ₱36.7K

$805 ₱49.6K

-26.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$526 ₱32.4K

$397 ₱24.5K

32.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,301 ₱141.9K

$2,955 ₱182.2K

-22.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,088 ₱67.1K

$1,923 ₱118.6K

-43.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$276 ₱17.0K

$364 ₱22.5K

-24.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

-43.75%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Caloocan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Cebu: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $290 in Caloocan versus $515 in Cebu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 32% higher in Cebu, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Caloocan versus $24.00 in Cebu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $150 vs $240 – making Caloocan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Caloocan vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cebu costs about 30% more than Caloocan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,007 per month in Caloocan and $1,309 in Cebu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Caloocan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Caloocan and $24.00 in Cebu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 60% more in Cebu, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Caloocan, where all-in costs run around $671, than in Cebu at $873. In Caloocan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cebu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Caloocan costs $671 versus $873 in Cebu. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Caloocan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cebu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.