Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Alexandria

For one person, living is cheaper in Alexandria: $457 a month against $934 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Alexandria
🇪🇬 Egypt
$457
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Alexandria

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 Alexandria actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $934 per month in Cebu vs $457 in Alexandria, rent included.

  • Cebu $934
  • Alexandria $457

A couple spends around $1,415 per month in Cebu vs $766 in Alexandria, rent included.

  • Cebu $1,415
  • Alexandria $766

A family of three spends $1,896 per month in Cebu vs $1,074 in Alexandria, rent included.

  • Cebu $1,896
  • Alexandria $1,074

Cebu costs about 104% more than Alexandria, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Cebu and Alexandria are more affordable than the global median – Cebu 30% lower, Alexandria 66% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Alexandria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03 ₱190
$4.22 E£221
-28.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48 ₱1,473
$19.34 E£1,012
21.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.09 ₱256
$4.89 E£256
-16.36%
Cappuccino
$2.52 ₱158
$1.32 E£69.2
90.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₱96.9
$0.33 E£17.52
366.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₱30.98
$0.11 E£5.74
345.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.79 ₱112
$1.32 E£68.9
35.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ₱142
$2.89 E£151
-21.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Alexandria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ₱122
$0.89 E£46.56
119.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ₱89.7
$0.68 E£35.57
110.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 ₱63.8
$0.60 E£31.60
70.00%
Eggs
$2.06 ₱129
$1.18 E£61.8
74.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 ₱615
$3.91 E£205
150.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.61 ₱289
$4.41 E£231
4.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.70 ₱483
$9.14 E£478
-15.75%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 ₱207
$1.56 E£81.5
112.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₱90.9
$0.80 E£41.85
81.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$0.53 E£27.47
345.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ₱96.4
$0.36 E£18.63
327.78%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$0.26 E£13.63
807.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 ₱125
$0.32 E£16.88
521.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 ₱72.1
$0.25 E£13.04
360.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₱42.15
$0.21 E£11.17
219.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱188
$1.93 E£101
55.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.35 ₱398
$5.62 E£294
12.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₱81.9
$1.21 E£63.2
8.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₱108
$2.25 E£118
-23.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Alexandria
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.78
$0.19 E£9.89
31.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.65 ₱793
$11.58 E£606
9.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱46.32
$0.55 E£29.02
34.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.11
$0.53 E£27.80
-60.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.33 ₱271
$1.16 E£60.6
273.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₱83.5
$0.47 E£24.62
182.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₱1.4M
$32.7K E£1.7M
-33.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ₱1.2M
$26.6K E£1.4M
-27.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Alexandria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 ₱7,563
$14.06 E£736
757.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.45 ₱907
$6.67 E£349
116.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.29 ₱1,774
$13.58 E£710
108.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Alexandria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.68 ₱2,050
$12.74 E£667
156.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.39 ₱401
$7.48 E£392
-14.57%
Cinema Ticket
$5.46 ₱342
$2.90 E£152
88.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Alexandria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$273 ₱17.1K
$88.5 E£4,628
209.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,156 ₱511.5K
$2,142 E£112.1K
280.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Alexandria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.57 ₱3,109
$33.60 E£1,758
47.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.87 ₱1,560
$46.46 E£2,431
-46.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 ₱4,804
$129 E£6,737
-40.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3 ₱3,717
$57.6 E£3,015
2.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Alexandria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$506 ₱31.7K
$134 E£7,026
276.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$69.3 E£3,624
346.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,052 ₱66.0K
$292 E£15.3K
260.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$619 ₱38.8K
$146 E£7,629
324.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,915 ₱182.9K
$698 E£36.5K
317.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,867 ₱117.1K
$441 E£23.1K
323.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Alexandria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$341 ₱21.4K
$142 E£7,430
140.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
21.33
-66.24%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Last update for Alexandria: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Alexandria
$69 77.6% $240
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210
Alexandria
$127 39.5% $83
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163
Alexandria
$34 79% $129
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$95
Alexandria
$120 26.7% $25
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Alexandria
$78 11.3% $10
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Alexandria
$19 57.5% $25
Getting Around
Cebu
$15
Alexandria
$16 0.6% $0.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $506 in Cebu versus $134 in Alexandria. 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 140% 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 $23.00 in Cebu versus $19.00 in Alexandria. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $127 – making Alexandria the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇪🇬 Alexandria
🕒 Local time
20:59 8:59 PM
15:59 3:59 PM
5 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
4,546,231
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

EGP, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.28 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

Egyptian Pound exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 52.32 EGP (100 EGP = 1.91 USD). 1 EUR = 58.63 EGP (100 EGP = 1.71 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Alexandria 9,790 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Alexandria

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 Alexandria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cebu or Alexandria?
Cebu costs about 104% more than Alexandria, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Alexandria?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,401 per month in Cebu and $686 in Alexandria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cebu or Alexandria?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Alexandria, 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 Alexandria?
Kindergarten costs $273 per month in Cebu and $88.5 in Alexandria. 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 Alexandria?
Groceries cost about 65% more in Cebu, 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 $800/month in Cebu or in Alexandria?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $934 in Cebu and $457 in Alexandria, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cebu or Alexandria?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Alexandria costs $457 versus $934 in Cebu. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Cebu compared to Alexandria?
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 Alexandria?
If budget matters most, go with Alexandria. 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.

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