Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Davao Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Davao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $936 in Cebu versus $805 in Davao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,427 in Cebu versus $1,239 in Davao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,918 in Cebu versus $1,672 in Davao.

Living in Cebu is roughly 16% more expensive than in Davao, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Davao 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.09 ₱193

$4.95 ₱310

-37.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.80 ₱1,490

$26.82 ₱1,680

-11.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.10 ₱257

$3.98 ₱249

3.02%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$2.71 ₱170

-4.06%

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

$1.55 ₱97.1

$1.10 ₱68.9

40.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.50

$0.69 ₱43.37

-21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 ₱108

$1.63 ₱102

6.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱137

$2.34 ₱146

-6.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱120

$1.94 ₱121

-1.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 ₱87.2

$1.10 ₱68.7

26.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ₱60.9

$0.91 ₱57.1

6.59%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱125

$1.93 ₱121

3.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.93 ₱622

$6.91 ₱433

43.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.38 ₱274

$4.24 ₱266

3.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.41 ₱464

$8.40 ₱526

-11.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 ₱217

$2.67 ₱167

29.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₱91.9

$1.07 ₱67.0

37.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱151

$2.28 ₱143

5.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₱96.6

$1.16 ₱72.7

32.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.36 ₱148

$2.11 ₱132

11.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ₱120

$3.54 ₱222

-46.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₱77.4

$1.19 ₱74.5

4.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₱41.48

$0.66 ₱41.13

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 ₱188

$2.42 ₱152

23.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.08 ₱381

$7.93 ₱497

-23.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₱81.9

$1.24 ₱77.7

5.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₱108

$1.58 ₱98.7

9.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.67

$0.33 ₱20.59

-24.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.73 ₱797

$13.43 ₱841

-5.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₱46.85

$0.83 ₱51.7

-9.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.23 ₱14.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 ₱288

$1.90 ₱119

142.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₱83.8

$1.16 ₱72.4

15.52%

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

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

2.68%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

0.93%

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

$121 ₱7,575

$106 ₱6,654

13.84%

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

$14.86 ₱931

$18.90 ₱1,183

-21.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.84 ₱1,743

$30.97 ₱1,939

-10.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.06 ₱2,008

$35.64 ₱2,232

-10.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.43 ₱403

$3.63 ₱227

77.13%

Cinema Ticket

$5.64 ₱353

$4.94 ₱309

14.17%

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

$273 ₱17.1K

$107 ₱6,685

156.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,017 ₱502.0K

$7,664 ₱479.9K

4.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.77 ₱3,054

$62.3 ₱3,901

-21.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 ₱1,596

$26.84 ₱1,681

-5.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 ₱4,890

$71.2 ₱4,458

9.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.8 ₱3,622

$61.9 ₱3,873

-6.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱31.3K

$282 ₱17.6K

77.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 ₱18.8K

$169 ₱10.6K

76.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 ₱68.2K

$631 ₱39.5K

72.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₱39.6K

$327 ₱20.5K

93.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,888 ₱180.9K

$1,618 ₱101.3K

78.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,877 ₱117.5K

$1,423 ₱89.1K

31.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.7K

$210 ₱13.1K

65.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

8.31

-13.36%

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

Last update for Cebu: August 30, 2026

Last update for Davao: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $282 in Davao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 65% 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 $27.00 in Davao. Groceries flip the comparison at $208 vs $195, with Davao cheaper for home cooking.

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 Davao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Davao is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 65% higher in Cebu, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $282 in Davao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $936 per month in Cebu versus $805 in Davao – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Davao runs roughly 5% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $805 in Davao versus $936 in Cebu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Davao but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Davao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Davao is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cebu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Cebu and Davao are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Davao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.