Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Benguela

For one person, living is cheaper in Benguela: $58.8 a month against $934 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Benguela
🇦🇴 Angola
$58.8
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Benguela

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $934 in Cebu versus $58.8 in Benguela.

  • Cebu $934
  • Benguela $58.8

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,415 in Cebu versus $83.2 in Benguela.

  • Cebu $1,415
  • Benguela $83.2

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,896 in Cebu versus $107 in Benguela.

  • Cebu $1,896
  • Benguela $107

Living in Cebu is roughly 1488% more expensive than in Benguela, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 30% lower, Benguela 96% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Benguela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03 ₱190
$2.66 AOA 2,431
13.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48 ₱1,473
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.09 ₱256
$10.78 AOA 9,838
-62.06%
Cappuccino
$2.52 ₱158
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₱96.9
$0.90 AOA 821
71.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₱30.98
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.79 ₱112
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ₱142
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Benguela
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ₱122
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ₱89.7
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 ₱63.8
-
-
Eggs
$2.06 ₱129
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 ₱615
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.61 ₱289
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.70 ₱483
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 ₱207
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₱90.9
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ₱96.4
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 ₱125
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 ₱72.1
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₱42.15
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱188
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$6.35 ₱398
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₱81.9
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₱108
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Benguela
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.78
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.65 ₱793
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱46.32
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.11
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.33 ₱271
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₱83.5
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₱1.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ₱1.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Benguela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 ₱7,563
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.45 ₱907
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.29 ₱1,774
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Benguela
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.68 ₱2,050
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.39 ₱401
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.46 ₱342
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Benguela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$273 ₱17.1K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,156 ₱511.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Benguela
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.57 ₱3,109
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.87 ₱1,560
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 ₱4,804
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3 ₱3,717
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Benguela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$506 ₱31.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,052 ₱66.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$619 ₱38.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,915 ₱182.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,867 ₱117.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Benguela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$341 ₱21.4K
$3,801 AOA 3.5M
-91.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
25
-71.20%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Last update for Benguela: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Benguela
–
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210
Benguela
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163
Benguela
–
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$95
Benguela
–
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Benguela
–
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Benguela
–
Getting Around
Cebu
$15
Benguela
–

Cost Breakdown

Benguela pays 1014% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇦🇴 Benguela
🕒 Local time
18:04 6:04 PM
11:04 11:04 AM
7 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
513,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AOA, 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).

Angolan Kwanza exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 913 AOA (1,000 AOA = 1.1 USD). 1 EUR = 1,023 AOA (10,000 AOA = 9.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Benguela 12,460 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Benguela

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 Benguela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cebu or Benguela?
Benguela wins on cost – living expenses run 1488% lower than in Cebu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Benguela the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cebu or in Benguela?
On paper, salaries run 1014% lower in Benguela. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
Can you live on $800/month in Cebu or in Benguela?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Benguela gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cebu or Benguela?
Both work as nomad bases, but Benguela delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $58.8 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Benguela hard to pass up.
How safe is Cebu compared to Benguela?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Benguela are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Benguela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1488% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Cebu vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?