Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Caboolture

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,922 in Caboolture, rent and utilities included – about $12,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Caboolture
🇦🇺 Australia
$1,922
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Caboolture

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

A single person spends $918 per month in Cebu vs $1,922 in Caboolture, rent included.

  • Cebu $918
  • Caboolture $1,922

A couple spends around $1,409 per month in Cebu vs $2,793 in Caboolture, rent included.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Caboolture $2,793

A family of three spends $1,900 per month in Cebu vs $3,665 in Caboolture, rent included.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Caboolture $3,665

Cebu is about 52% cheaper than Caboolture, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Cebu sits 32% below the global median, while Caboolture is 42% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Caboolture
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$10.68 A$15.30
-71.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,519
$48.40 A$69.3
-49.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱246
$10.46 A$14.98
-62.52%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱157
$2.83 A$4.05
-11.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱99.8
$1.76 A$2.52
-9.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.31
$1.54 A$2.21
-65.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$6.94 A$9.94
-74.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱136
$7.53 A$10.79
-71.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Caboolture
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱120
$1.19 A$1.71
61.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.1
$2.14 A$3.07
-36.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.3
$1.96 A$2.81
-48.47%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱127
$4.16 A$5.96
-51.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱619
$8.60 A$12.32
14.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱276
$9.25 A$13.26
-52.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱477
$12.24 A$17.54
-37.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱207
$3.09 A$4.43
6.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.4
$2.58 A$3.70
-46.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱146
$3.42 A$4.89
-31.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱93.9
$4.18 A$5.99
-64.11%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$1.91 A$2.74
23.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$1.91 A$2.74
-0.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.6
$2.08 A$2.97
-42.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.56
$0.90 A$1.28
-30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱188
$29.24 A$41.88
-89.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱378
$13.88 A$19.88
-56.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.4
$4.00 A$5.73
-69.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$6.77 A$9.69
-74.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Caboolture
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.80
$1.55 A$2.22
-83.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱792
$80.6 A$115
-84.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.43
$2.17 A$3.11
-64.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.47
$1.12 A$1.61
-79.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱279
$33.69 A$48.26
-86.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.5
$1.37 A$1.96
-4.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$24.0K A$34.3K
-11.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$24.9K A$35.6K
-23.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Caboolture
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,540
$174 A$250
-30.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱878
$11.90 A$17.04
17.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,727
$49.22 A$70.5
-44.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Caboolture
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,028
$22.38 A$32.06
44.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱417
$17.39 A$24.92
-61.76%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱354
$14.03 A$20.10
-59.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Caboolture
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$1,724 A$2,469
-84.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱496.6K
$4,154 A$5,950
90.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Caboolture
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,094
$33.45 A$47.91
47.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,583
$51.7 A$74.1
-51.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,827
$98.5 A$141
-21.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,587
$73.1 A$105
-21.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Caboolture
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.3K
$1,074 A$1,538
-53.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$890 A$1,275
-65.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.6K
$1,515 A$2,170
-28.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.6K
$1,461 A$2,093
-57.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.0K
$5,269 A$7,548
-45.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.2K
$5,593 A$8,012
-65.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Caboolture
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.7K
$1,802 A$2,581
-80.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
5.69
26.54%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Caboolture: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Caboolture
$890 188% $581
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Caboolture
$322 56.5% $116
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Caboolture
$235 45.5% $74
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Caboolture
$116 23% $22
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Caboolture
$214 142% $125
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Caboolture
$50 15.6% $6.8
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Caboolture
$95 507% $79

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Cebu versus $1,074 in Caboolture. 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 421% higher in Caboolture, 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 $48.00 in Caboolture. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $322 – making Cebu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇦🇺 Caboolture
🕒 Local time
03:06 3:06 AM
05:06 5:06 AM
2 h ahead of Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
29,534
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.01 PHP (100 PHP = 1.43 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.698 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.625 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Caboolture 5,200 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Caboolture

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 Caboolture: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cebu or Caboolture?
Caboolture costs about 109% 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 Caboolture?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,377 per month in Cebu and $2,882 in Caboolture. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cebu or Caboolture?
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 do childcare costs compare in Cebu and in Caboolture?
Kindergarten costs $275 per month in Cebu and $1,724 in Caboolture. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Cebu or in Caboolture?
Groceries cost about 56% more in Caboolture, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Cebu or in Caboolture?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cebu, where all-in costs run around $918, than in Caboolture at $1,922. In Cebu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caboolture it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cebu or Caboolture?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cebu costs $918 versus $1,922 in Caboolture. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Cebu compared to Caboolture?
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 Caboolture?
If budget matters most, go with Cebu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Caboolture makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Cebu vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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