Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Bataan Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Bataan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $873 in Cebu versus $613 in Bataan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,339 in Cebu versus $1,007 in Bataan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,805 in Cebu versus $1,401 in Bataan.

Living in Cebu is roughly 43% more expensive than in Bataan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 35% lower, Bataan 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.39 ₱270

$1.39 ₱85.3

215.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.30 ₱1,496

$17.57 ₱1,082

38.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.53 ₱279

$3.14 ₱193

44.27%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱155

$1.48 ₱91.2

70.27%

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

$0.80 ₱49.42

$0.82 ₱50.3

-2.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱25.97

$0.26 ₱15.95

61.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 ₱97.7

$1.50 ₱92.5

6.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.69 ₱166

-18.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₱139

$1.86 ₱114

21.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱93.0

$1.44 ₱88.8

4.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ₱71.6

$0.93 ₱57.4

24.73%

Eggs

$2.36 ₱145

$1.98 ₱122

19.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.87 ₱792

$8.08 ₱498

59.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.38 ₱331

$4.03 ₱248

33.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.82 ₱481

$10.51 ₱647

-25.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.53 ₱217

$2.87 ₱176

23.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₱92.9

$2.17 ₱133

-30.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$3.46 ₱213

-4.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.20 ₱136

$1.46 ₱89.9

50.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 ₱162

$1.45 ₱89.1

82.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 ₱152

$2.60 ₱160

-5.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₱61.4

$1.12 ₱69.1

-10.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱48.06

$0.52 ₱31.92

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 ₱191

$2.46 ₱151

26.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.43 ₱396

$8.66 ₱533

-25.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱71.7

$1.10 ₱67.6

5.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$2.51 ₱155

-10.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.80

$0.26 ₱15.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.36 ₱946

$4.18 ₱257

267.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱49.81

$0.77 ₱47.25

5.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.06

$0.24 ₱14.80

-4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 ₱163

$2.10 ₱129

25.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.7

$1.16 ₱71.6

-5.17%

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

$30.5K ₱1.9M

$28.3K ₱1.7M

7.59%

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

$27.7K ₱1.7M

$28.4K ₱1.7M

-2.22%

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

$95.9 ₱5,904

$52.8 ₱3,252

81.54%

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

$34.05 ₱2,096

$22.63 ₱1,393

50.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.86 ₱1,839

$25.48 ₱1,569

17.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.32 ₱2,051

$34.38 ₱2,116

-3.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.45 ₱520

$4.31 ₱265

96.06%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱357

$6.34 ₱391

-8.68%

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

$235 ₱14.5K

$72.5 ₱4,461

224.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,913 ₱240.9K

$4,265 ₱262.5K

-8.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 ₱3,272

$45.81 ₱2,820

16.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.65 ₱1,395

$33.62 ₱2,070

-32.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,685

$68.8 ₱4,233

10.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.0 ₱3,383

$117 ₱7,224

-53.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$508 ₱31.3K

$98.4 ₱6,059

416.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 ₱12.9K

$58.3 ₱3,589

259.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$800 ₱49.3K

$307 ₱18.9K

160.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 ₱24.0K

$174 ₱10.7K

123.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,013 ₱185.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,950 ₱120.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$340 ₱20.9K

$393 ₱24.2K

-13.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

29.66%

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

Last update for Cebu: July 14, 2026

Last update for Bataan: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $508 in Cebu and $98.4 in Bataan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bataan pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $18.00 in Bataan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $217 per month, with Bataan cheaper across the board.

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 Bataan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bataan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Bataan. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $508 in Cebu versus $98.4 in Bataan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Bataan – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $24.00 in Cebu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $613 in Bataan versus $873 in Cebu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bataan but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Bataan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Bataan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cebu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Cebu and Bataan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bataan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.