Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Basildon

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $2,450 in Basildon, rent and utilities included – about $18,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Basildon
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,450
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Basildon

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

A single person spends $918 per month in Cebu vs $2,450 in Basildon, rent included.

  • Cebu $918
  • Basildon $2,450

A couple spends around $1,409 per month in Cebu vs $3,595 in Basildon, rent included.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Basildon $3,595

A family of three spends $1,900 per month in Cebu vs $4,739 in Basildon, rent included.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Basildon $4,739

Cebu is about 63% cheaper than Basildon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Cebu sits 32% below the global median, while Basildon is 82% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Basildon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$21.18 £15.89
-85.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$87.5 £65.6
-72.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$9.43 £7.07
-58.43%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$4.63 £3.47
-45.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$2.75 £2.07
-42.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$1.52 £1.14
-65.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$7.94 £5.96
-77.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$3.95 £2.97
-45.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Basildon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$1.64 £1.23
17.07%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$1.77 £1.33
-23.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$2.61 £1.96
-61.30%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$3.91 £2.94
-48.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$9.92 £7.44
-0.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$4.41 £3.31
-0.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$11.96 £8.97
-36.45%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$2.91 £2.18
13.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$1.30 £0.98
6.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$3.51 £2.63
-33.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$3.55 £2.66
-57.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$1.56 £1.17
51.28%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$1.80 £1.35
5.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$1.04 £0.78
14.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$1.30 £0.98
-51.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$19.84 £14.88
-84.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
$11.09 £8.32
-45.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$3.24 £2.43
-62.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$1.63 £1.23
7.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Basildon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
$2.66 £1.99
-90.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
$66.2 £49.65
-80.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$7.99 £6.00
-90.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$2.68 £2.01
-91.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$50.1 £37.56
-91.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$1.91 £1.43
-31.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$37.6K £28.2K
-43.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$40.7K £30.6K
-53.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Basildon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$335 £251
-64.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$18.25 £13.69
-23.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$34.69 £26.02
-20.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Basildon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$44.71 £33.54
-27.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
$26.05 £19.54
-74.47%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$13.92 £10.44
-59.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Basildon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$2,547 £1,911
-89.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$34.9K £26.2K
-77.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Basildon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$76.2 £57.2
-35.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$47.64 £35.74
-47.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$53.6 £40.20
43.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$53.5 £40.14
6.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Basildon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$1,616 £1,212
-69.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$1,199 £899
-74.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$2,320 £1,741
-53.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
$2,030 £1,523
-69.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
$5,215 £3,912
-44.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$3,299 £2,475
-41.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Basildon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
$2,962 £2,222
-88.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
5.04
42.86%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Basildon: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Basildon
$1.2K 288% $890
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Basildon
$272 31.9% $66
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Basildon
$388 140% $226
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Basildon
$104 10.6% $10
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Basildon
$318 260% $230
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Basildon
$73 66.3% $29
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Basildon
$98 531% $83

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Cebu versus $1,616 in Basildon. 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 756% higher in Basildon, 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 $24.00 in Cebu versus $87.0 in Basildon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $272 – making Cebu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇬🇧 Basildon
🕒 Local time
10:21 10:21 AM
03:21 3:21 AM
7 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
184,479
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Basildon 11,270 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Basildon

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 Basildon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cebu or Basildon?
Basildon costs about 167% more than Cebu, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Basildon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,377 per month in Cebu and $3,676 in Basildon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cebu or Basildon?
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 much does it cost to live in Cebu compared to Basildon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $918 in Cebu and $2,450 in Basildon. That's a gap of about 167%.
How expensive is transport in Cebu compared to Basildon?
Public transport costs about 423% less in Cebu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Cebu or in Basildon?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cebu, where all-in costs run around $918, than in Basildon at $2,450. In Cebu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Basildon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cebu or Basildon?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cebu costs $918 versus $2,450 in Basildon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Cebu compared to Basildon?
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 Basildon?
If budget matters most, go with Cebu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Basildon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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