Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Coffs Harbour

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $2,422 in Coffs Harbour, rent and utilities included – about $18,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Coffs Harbour
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,422
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Coffs Harbour

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $2,422 in Coffs Harbour.

  • Cebu $918
  • Coffs Harbour $2,422

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $3,551 in Coffs Harbour.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Coffs Harbour $3,551

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $4,680 in Coffs Harbour.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Coffs Harbour $4,680

Living in Cebu costs roughly 62% less than in Coffs Harbour, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 32% below, Coffs Harbour is 79% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱195
$13.90 A$20.00
-77.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$105 A$151
-76.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$9.16 A$13.18
-57.21%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$3.70 A$5.32
-32.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$2.80 A$4.03
-43.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.45
$1.94 A$2.80
-72.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$5.07 A$7.29
-64.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$5.53 A$7.96
-60.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$1.52 A$2.18
26.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.5
$2.73 A$3.92
-50.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.6
$2.33 A$3.35
-56.65%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$3.40 A$4.89
-40.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$9.04 A$13.00
9.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$7.15 A$10.28
-38.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$14.16 A$20.38
-46.33%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$3.81 A$5.49
-13.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$3.03 A$4.37
-54.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$3.47 A$5.00
-32.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$4.25 A$6.12
-64.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$1.35 A$1.95
74.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$2.50 A$3.59
-24.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$2.41 A$3.47
-50.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.73
$2.33 A$3.35
-72.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$31.57 A$45.43
-90.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱380
$14.01 A$20.16
-56.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$5.90 A$8.49
-79.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$6.76 A$9.72
-74.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Coffs Harbour
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.87
$4.84 A$6.97
-94.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.64
$2.10 A$3.03
-63.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.54
$1.55 A$2.24
-85.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$35.59 A$51.2
-87.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$1.29 A$1.86
1.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$26.5K A$38.2K
-19.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$32.7K A$47.0K
-41.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,573
$176 A$253
-31.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$10.55 A$15.18
32.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,735
$53.5 A$77.0
-48.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,036
$108 A$155
-69.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$13.84 A$19.92
-59.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$2,176 A$3,131
-87.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.8K
$11.8K A$17.0K
-32.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,107
$74.9 A$108
-34.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,590
$54.0 A$77.7
-53.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,848
$104 A$150
-26.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,603
$120 A$173
-52.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Coffs Harbour
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$1,387 A$1,997
-64.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.5K
$1,259 A$1,812
-75.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$2,108 A$3,033
-48.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.8K
$1,939 A$2,790
-68.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.8K
$3,557 A$5,119
-18.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$3,546 A$5,102
-45.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
$3,275 A$4,713
-89.44%
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 Coffs Harbour: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Coffs Harbour
$1.3K 308% $951
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Coffs Harbour
$361 75.2% $155
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Coffs Harbour
$240 48.1% $78
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Coffs Harbour
$159 69.1% $65
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Coffs Harbour
$238 170% $150
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Coffs Harbour
$135 210% $92
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Coffs Harbour
$29 * 87.8% $14

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $1,387 in Coffs Harbour. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Coffs Harbour pays 847% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $105 in Coffs Harbour for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $361 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇦🇺 Coffs Harbour
🕒 Local time
03:03 3:03 AM
06:03 6:03 AM
3 h ahead of Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
78,759
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.99 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.82 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Coffs Harbour 5,490 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Coffs Harbour

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 Coffs Harbour: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coffs Harbour cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 164% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Coffs Harbour?
On paper, salaries run 847% lower in Coffs Harbour. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Cebu and Coffs Harbour?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $1,387 in Coffs Harbour. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cebu and in Coffs Harbour?
Supermarket bills run roughly 75% higher in Coffs Harbour. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Coffs Harbour?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $2,422 in Coffs Harbour – a 164% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cebu or in Coffs Harbour?
At $918 in Cebu versus $2,422 in Coffs Harbour, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Coffs Harbour. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Coffs Harbour more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Coffs Harbour, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Coffs Harbour?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Coffs Harbour 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 164% less than in Coffs Harbour. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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