Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Al Majma'ah

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,267 in Al Majma'ah, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Al Majma'ah
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,267
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Al Majma'ah

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 Al Majma'ah actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $918 per month in Cebu vs $1,267 in Al Majma'ah, rent included.

  • Cebu $918
  • Al Majma'ah $1,267

A couple spends around $1,409 per month in Cebu vs $1,966 in Al Majma'ah, rent included.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Al Majma'ah $1,966

A family of three spends $1,900 per month in Cebu vs $2,664 in Al Majma'ah, rent included.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Al Majma'ah $2,664

Cebu is about 28% cheaper than Al Majma'ah, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Cebu and Al Majma'ah are more affordable than the global median – Cebu 32% lower, Al Majma'ah 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$7.88 SAR 29.56
-60.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$66.1 SAR 248
-63.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$8.24 SAR 30.92
-52.43%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.17 SAR 8.14
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.95 SAR 11.09
-
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$4.35 SAR 16.33
-42.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$0.90 SAR 3.38
76.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$0.30 SAR 1.11
76.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$1.81 SAR 6.79
6.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$1.32 SAR 4.95
3.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$2.36 SAR 8.85
-57.20%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$3.13 SAR 11.76
-35.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$10.67 SAR 40.04
-7.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$9.33 SAR 35.01
-52.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$15.07 SAR 56.5
-49.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$2.82 SAR 10.58
17.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$1.97 SAR 7.41
-29.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$2.43 SAR 9.11
-4.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$1.72 SAR 6.47
-12.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$1.17 SAR 4.40
101.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$1.26 SAR 4.74
50.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$1.69 SAR 6.34
-29.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$0.54 SAR 2.02
16.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$2.85 SAR 10.71
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.77 SAR 6.64
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.38 SAR 8.93
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$7.95 SAR 29.84
-62.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Al Majma'ah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
$1.06 SAR 3.96
-76.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
$37.10 SAR 139
-65.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$3.27 SAR 12.26
-76.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$1.85 SAR 6.94
-87.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$13.46 SAR 50.5
-66.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$0.59 SAR 2.23
122.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$34.8K SAR 130.6K
-38.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$23.0K SAR 86.2K
-16.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$105 SAR 395
14.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$29.75 SAR 112
-52.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$71.1 SAR 267
-61.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$81.7 SAR 307
-60.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$13.61 SAR 51.1
-58.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$530 SAR 1,988
-48.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$10.0K SAR 37.7K
-21.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$58.3 SAR 219
-15.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$54.8 SAR 206
-53.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$101 SAR 379
-23.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$102 SAR 384
-44.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Al Majma'ah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$577 SAR 2,166
-13.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$371 SAR 1,391
-16.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$825 SAR 3,096
30.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
$570 SAR 2,137
8.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
$2,389 SAR 8,966
20.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$1,363 SAR 5,113
40.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
5.54
29.96%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Al Majma'ah: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Al Majma'ah
$371 20% $62
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Al Majma'ah
$241 16.9% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Al Majma'ah
$206 27.4% $44
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Al Majma'ah
$142 51.5% $48
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Al Majma'ah
$145 64% $56
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Al Majma'ah
$109 150% $65
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Al Majma'ah
$54 246% $38

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Cebu versus $577 in Al Majma'ah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Cebu versus $66.0 in Al Majma'ah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $241 – making Cebu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇸🇦 Al Majma'ah
🕒 Local time
00:02 12:02 AM
19:02 7:02 PM
5 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

SAR, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.22 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Al Majma'ah 8,370 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Al Majma'ah

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 Al Majma'ah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cebu or Al Majma'ah?
Al Majma'ah costs about 38% more than Cebu, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from leisure. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cebu and in Al Majma'ah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,377 per month in Cebu and $1,901 in Al Majma'ah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cebu or Al Majma'ah?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cebu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Cebu and in Al Majma'ah?
Kindergarten costs $275 per month in Cebu and $530 in Al Majma'ah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Cebu or in Al Majma'ah?
Groceries cost about 17% more in Al Majma'ah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Cebu or in Al Majma'ah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cebu, where all-in costs run around $918, than in Al Majma'ah at $1,267. In Cebu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al Majma'ah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cebu or Al Majma'ah?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cebu costs $918 versus $1,267 in Al Majma'ah. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Cebu compared to Al Majma'ah?
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.
Should I move to Cebu or to Al Majma'ah?
If budget matters most, go with Cebu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Al Majma'ah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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