Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Cabanatuan Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Cabanatuan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $873 per month in Cebu vs $531 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,326 per month in Cebu vs $1,030 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,778 per month in Cebu vs $1,530 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

Cebu costs about 64% more than Cabanatuan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cebu and Cabanatuan are more affordable than the global median – Cebu 35% lower, Cabanatuan 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.33 ₱267

$4.55 ₱280

-4.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.14 ₱1,489

$34.83 ₱2,147

-30.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.36 ₱269

$3.44 ₱212

26.74%

Cappuccino

$2.57 ₱159

$2.94 ₱181

-12.59%

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

$0.84 ₱52.1

$0.86 ₱53.2

-2.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱26.36

$0.46 ₱28.26

-6.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱94.5

$1.43 ₱88.4

6.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.60 ₱161

-18.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 ₱137

$2.03 ₱125

8.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ₱92.6

$1.63 ₱101

-7.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.7

$0.99 ₱61.1

12.12%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$1.98 ₱122

17.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 ₱803

$3.60 ₱222

261.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ₱330

$3.11 ₱192

72.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₱462

$6.63 ₱409

13.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 ₱220

$4.05 ₱250

-11.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱89.4

$1.22 ₱75.1

18.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 ₱209

$2.00 ₱123

69.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 ₱134

$0.81 ₱50.2

169.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.59 ₱160

$1.47 ₱90.4

76.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.48 ₱153

$1.40 ₱86.3

77.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.6

$1.04 ₱64.3

-11.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.95

$0.83 ₱51.3

-4.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.11 ₱192

$2.91 ₱180

6.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.52 ₱402

$5.70 ₱351

14.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.4

$0.71 ₱43.61

70.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$1.75 ₱108

32.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.41

$0.26 ₱15.82

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.00 ₱925

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱51.6

$0.74 ₱45.93

13.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.45

$0.24 ₱14.84

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 ₱166

$0.85 ₱52.5

216.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.1

$1.17 ₱71.9

-6.84%

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

$30.1K ₱1.9M

$28.8K ₱1.8M

4.39%

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

$27.0K ₱1.7M

$17.9K ₱1.1M

50.80%

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

$95.4 ₱5,880

$58.1 ₱3,580

64.24%

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

$33.83 ₱2,086

$21.34 ₱1,316

58.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.78 ₱1,836

$25.27 ₱1,558

17.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.91 ₱2,029

$12.25 ₱755

168.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.43 ₱520

$2.59 ₱160

225.48%

Cinema Ticket

$5.84 ₱360

$6.87 ₱423

-14.99%

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

$233 ₱14.3K

$151 ₱9,306

54.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,894 ₱240.1K

$4,308 ₱265.7K

-9.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ₱3,297

$26.79 ₱1,652

99.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.75 ₱1,403

$33.73 ₱2,080

-32.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 ₱4,729

$62.6 ₱3,862

22.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 ₱3,359

$47.62 ₱2,936

14.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₱31.8K

$261 ₱16.1K

97.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 ₱12.9K

$44.20 ₱2,726

371.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 ₱49.6K

$588 ₱36.2K

36.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱24.5K

$396 ₱24.4K

0.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,955 ₱182.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,923 ₱118.6K

$225 ₱13.9K

752.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$364 ₱22.5K

$198 ₱12.2K

83.58%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Cabanatuan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Cebu versus $261 in Cabanatuan. 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 84% 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 $24.00 in Cebu versus $35.00 in Cabanatuan. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Cebu vs $174 in Cabanatuan – so Cabanatuan 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 Cabanatuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $873 in Cebu, $531 in Cabanatuan – roughly 64% apart. Cebu costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,309 per month in Cebu and $796 in Cabanatuan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Cebu and $35.00 in Cabanatuan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Cebu, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cabanatuan, where all-in costs run around $531, than in Cebu at $873. In Cabanatuan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cebu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Cebu has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $531 in Cabanatuan to $873 in Cebu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Cabanatuan. 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.