Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Calabar

For one person, living is cheaper in Calabar: $821 a month against $934 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $1,400 less a year. The total is higher in Cebu despite lower rent and utilities.

45

Cost of Living Index in Cebu
Learn more

Cebu Living Index

Jump to prices

Cebu

🇵🇭 Philippines

$934

/mo nomad

Calabar

🇳🇬 Nigeria

$821

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Calabar

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

A single person spends $934 per month in Cebu vs $821 in Calabar, rent included.

Cebu $934
Calabar $821

A couple spends around $1,423 per month in Cebu vs $1,130 in Calabar, rent included.

Cebu $1,423
Calabar $1,130

A family of three spends $1,913 per month in Cebu vs $1,440 in Calabar, rent included.

Cebu $1,913
Calabar $1,440

Cebu costs about 14% more than Calabar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Cebu and Calabar are more affordable than the global median – Cebu 31% lower, Calabar 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.79 ₱242

$1.14 ₦1,533

232.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.33 ₱1,489

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.94 ₱252

Cappuccino

$2.54 ₱162

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

$1.57 ₱100

$0.35 ₦476

348.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₱29.78

$0.19 ₦255

147.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 ₱113

$0.87 ₦1,161

103.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₱142

$1.22 ₦1,639

81.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱121

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 ₱87.0

$1.37 ₦1,833

-0.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 ₱59.8

$1.46 ₦1,961

-35.62%

Eggs

$1.99 ₱127

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.70 ₱619

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 ₱276

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.51 ₱479

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 ₱211

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 ₱87.4

Oranges (1kg)

$2.34 ₱149

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 ₱95.2

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 ₱147

Onion (1kg)

$1.87 ₱120

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱70.3

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₱40.31

$0.43 ₦578

46.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 ₱182

Wine (Bottle)

$6.08 ₱388

$4.51 ₦6,054

34.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 ₱81.3

$1.10 ₦1,482

15.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 ₱110

$1.51 ₦2,023

13.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.34 ₱787

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ₱47.47

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱14.07

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 ₱273

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ₱83.6

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

$20.8K ₱1.3M

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

$19.0K ₱1.2M

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

$118 ₱7,555

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

$15.76 ₱1,006

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.33 ₱1,807

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.94 ₱2,102

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.49 ₱414

Cinema Ticket

$5.45 ₱348

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

$276 ₱17.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,789 ₱497.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.18 ₱3,074

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.47 ₱1,562

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 ₱4,804

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.0 ₱3,702

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 ₱30.5K

$1,138 ₦1.5M

-58.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 ₱20.5K

$761 ₦1.0M

-57.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 ₱61.5K

$1,872 ₦2.5M

-48.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 ₱39.9K

$1,328 ₦1.8M

-52.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,551 ₱290.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,028 ₱193.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$333 ₱21.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

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

Last update for Cebu: October 26, 2026

Last update for Calabar: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Cebu

$322 34.5%

Calabar

–

Groceries & Markets

Cebu

$204 21.8%

Calabar

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Cebu

$163 17.4%

Calabar

–

Eating Out

Cebu

$94 10.1%

Calabar

–

Clothing & Footwear

Cebu

$93 9.9%

Calabar

–

Sport & Entertainment

Cebu

$44 4.7%

Calabar

–

Getting Around

Cebu

$15 1.6%

Calabar

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Cebu versus $1,138 in Calabar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Cebu

🇳🇬 Calabar

🕒 Local time

00:24 12:24 AM

17:24 5:24 PM

7 h behind Cebu

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

964,169

371,022

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

Nigerian Naira NGN ₦

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.57 USD

100 PHP = 1.4 EUR

10,000 NGN = 7.45 USD

10,000 NGN = 6.68 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

NGN, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇭 Philippine Peso (₱)

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 63.81 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.21 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1,342 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.45 USD). 1 EUR = 1,497 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.68 EUR).

USD to PHP in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Cebu Calabar 12,680 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight

From you

Cebu
Calabar

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 Calabar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $934 in Cebu, $821 in Calabar – Calabar comes out roughly 12% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,401 per month in Cebu and $1,232 in Calabar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cebu, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $477 there versus $1,138 in Calabar.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $934 in Cebu and $821 in Calabar. That makes Calabar about 12% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 382% more in Cebu, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $934 in Cebu and $821 in Calabar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Cebu has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $821 in Calabar to $934 in Cebu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.