Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cebu and in Adapazari actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $961 in Adapazari.
Cebu $918
Adapazari $961
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $1,476 in Adapazari.
Cebu $1,409
Adapazari $1,476
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $1,990 in Adapazari.
Cebu $1,900
Adapazari $1,990
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 4% less than in Adapazari, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu32% lower, Adapazari29% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Adapazari
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09₱194
$7.03₺348
-56.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22₱1,525
$30.04₺1,487
-19.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.92₱247
$7.24₺359
-45.86%
Cappuccino
$2.51₱158
$3.59₺178
-30.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59₱100
$0.98₺48.58
62.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53₱33.43
$0.39₺19.39
35.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78₱112
$1.85₺91.8
-3.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱137
$2.39₺118
-9.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Adapazari
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92₱121
$0.94₺46.74
104.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36₱85.4
$1.02₺50.3
33.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01₱63.5
$2.14₺106
-52.80%
Eggs
$2.03₱128
$2.03₺101
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.86₱621
$7.70₺381
28.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.39₱277
$2.90₺143
51.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60₱479
$17.96₺889
-57.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30₱208
$1.94₺96.0
70.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39₱87.8
$1.86₺91.9
-25.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33₱147
$0.84₺41.59
177.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50₱94.3
$1.32₺65.5
13.64%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36₱149
$0.53₺26.38
345.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90₱119
$0.30₺14.96
533.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₱74.9
$0.78₺38.85
52.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63₱39.71
$0.73₺36.14
-13.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00₱189
$2.08₺103
44.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.03₱379
$14.17₺701
-57.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23₱77.7
$2.05₺101
-40.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75₱110
$3.60₺178
-51.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Adapazari
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.86
$0.45₺22.15
-44.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.64₱796
$61.8₺3,059
-79.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77₱48.62
$1.09₺54.0
-29.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱14.53
$1.09₺53.9
-78.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.46₱281
$4.24₺210
5.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31₱82.8
$1.27₺62.8
3.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K₱1.3M
$43.1K₺2.1M
-50.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K₱1.2M
$39.3K₺1.9M
-51.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Adapazari
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120₱7,569
$43.77₺2,167
174.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00₱882
$10.16₺503
37.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54₱1,734
$14.35₺711
91.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Adapazari
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.33₱2,035
$41.02₺2,031
-21.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65₱419
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.65₱356
$6.14₺304
-7.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Adapazari
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$275₱17.3K
$929₺46.0K
-70.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,918₱498.5K
$14.8K₺731.3K
-46.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Adapazari
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33₱3,106
$38.45₺1,904
28.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24₱1,589
$42.55₺2,107
-40.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0₱4,846
$84.7₺4,191
-9.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2₱3,601
$70.1₺3,468
-18.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Adapazari
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500₱31.5K
$406₺20.1K
23.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₱19.4K
$304₺15.1K
1.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,078₱67.9K
$764₺37.8K
41.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$615₱38.7K
$503₺24.9K
22.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,886₱181.7K
$1,233₺61.0K
134.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,917₱120.7K
$687₺34.0K
178.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Adapazari
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$346₱21.8K
$894₺44.3K
-61.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
39.8
-81.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026
Last update for Adapazari: October 11, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309 33.6%
Adapazari
$304 31.6% ↓ 1.5%$4.7
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206 22.4%
Adapazari
$218 22.7% ↑ 6.1%$13
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162 17.6%
Adapazari
$68 7.1% ↓ 57.8%$93
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94 10.2%
Adapazari
$106 11% ↑ 12.9%$12
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Adapazari
$141 14.6% ↑ 59.3%$52
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44 4.8%
Adapazari
$53 5.6% ↑ 22.2%$9.7
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$16 1.7%
Adapazari
$70 7.3% ↑ 350%$55
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$615 32.4%
Adapazari
$503 25.3% ↓ 18.2%$112
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$483 25.4%
Adapazari
$493 24.8% ↑ 2.2%$11
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$176 9.3%
Adapazari
$78 3.9% ↓ 55.4%$97
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$209 11%
Adapazari
$236 11.8% ↑ 12.9%$27
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$292 15.4%
Adapazari
$432 21.7% ↑ 47.8%$140
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$94 4.9%
Adapazari
$107 * 5.4% ↑ 13.5%$13
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$32 1.7%
Adapazari
$141 7.1% ↑ 346%$109
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $406 in Adapazari. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Adapazari pays 158% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $30.00 in Adapazari for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $218 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Cebu vs Adapazari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cebu and in Adapazari?
Cebu and Adapazari differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($918 vs $961 including rent). Cebu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 158% lower in Adapazari. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Cebu and in Adapazari?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $406 in Adapazari. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Cebu – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $30.00 in Adapazari. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Cebu or Adapazari?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $961 in Adapazari – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $918 in Cebu versus $961 in Adapazari, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Adapazari. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cebu and Adapazari?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Cebu or Adapazari safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Adapazari are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Cebu or Adapazari?
Expats usually find Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Adapazari. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.