Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Bohol Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Bohol

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $854 per month in Cebu vs $697 in Bohol, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,318 per month in Cebu vs $1,109 in Bohol, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,782 per month in Cebu vs $1,520 in Bohol, rent included.

Cebu costs about 22% more than Bohol, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cebu and Bohol are more affordable than the global median – Cebu 36% lower, Bohol 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.40 ₱271

$3.63 ₱224

21.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.98 ₱1,479

$35.42 ₱2,185

-32.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$4.52 ₱279

0.44%

Cappuccino

$2.53 ₱156

$3.20 ₱198

-20.94%

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

$0.85 ₱52.6

$0.81 ₱50.0

4.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.85

$0.37 ₱22.80

21.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱93.6

$1.30 ₱80.2

16.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.07 ₱128

5.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 ₱142

$1.84 ₱113

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ₱96.8

$1.21 ₱74.6

29.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ₱71.2

$0.94 ₱57.9

22.34%

Eggs

$2.36 ₱146

$1.99 ₱123

18.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 ₱804

$7.80 ₱481

67.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.10 ₱314

$4.14 ₱255

23.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 ₱490

$8.76 ₱541

-9.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 ₱215

$2.87 ₱177

21.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₱92.9

$1.60 ₱98.4

-5.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$2.60 ₱160

26.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.57 ₱96.6

39.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.09 ₱129

24.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.63 ₱162

-6.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.9

$1.10 ₱67.9

-16.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.4

$0.71 ₱44.08

16.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.27 ₱202

$2.42 ₱149

35.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 ₱416

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.7

$1.21 ₱74.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱140

$2.02 ₱125

12.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.37

$0.28 ₱17.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.14 ₱934

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.6

$0.77 ₱47.54

12.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.50

$0.22 ₱13.53

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.12 ₱131

23.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱70.3

$1.25 ₱77.0

-8.80%

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

$29.6K ₱1.8M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

12.72%

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

$27.0K ₱1.7M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

31.41%

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

$95.2 ₱5,870

$112 ₱6,909

-15.03%

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

$33.67 ₱2,077

$33.21 ₱2,048

1.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.79 ₱1,837

$27.82 ₱1,716

7.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.90 ₱2,029

$18.65 ₱1,150

76.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.16 ₱503

$4.45 ₱275

83.37%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱357

$5.62 ₱346

3.02%

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

$232 ₱14.3K

$149 ₱9,183

55.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,860 ₱238.1K

$4,264 ₱263.0K

-9.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 ₱3,214

$45.73 ₱2,821

13.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.82 ₱1,407

$26.96 ₱1,663

-15.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ₱4,736

$75.8 ₱4,674

1.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.3 ₱3,351

$52.8 ₱3,259

2.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 ₱30.6K

$143 ₱8,808

247.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 ₱13.2K

$107 ₱6,599

99.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ₱49.2K

$528 ₱32.6K

50.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₱23.8K

$228 ₱14.1K

69.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,968 ₱183.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,963 ₱121.1K

$543 ₱33.5K

261.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$383 ₱23.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

19.94%

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

Last update for Cebu: April 28, 2026

Last update for Bohol: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $497 in Cebu versus $143 in Bohol. 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 $35.00 in Bohol. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Cebu vs $189 in Bohol – so Bohol wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Bohol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cebu is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,281 per month in Cebu and $1,046 in Bohol. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bohol, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $854 in Cebu and $697 in Bohol. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $232 per month in Cebu and $149 in Bohol. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bohol, where all-in costs run around $697, than in Cebu at $854. In Bohol it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cebu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bohol – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bohol. 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.