For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,801 in Gozo, rent and utilities included – about $10,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
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 Gozo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $1,801 in Gozo.
Cebu $918
Gozo $1,801
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $2,747 in Gozo.
Cebu $1,409
Gozo $2,747
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $3,694 in Gozo.
Cebu $1,900
Gozo $3,694
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 49% less than in Gozo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 32% below, Gozo is 33% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Gozo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09₱194
$30.99€27.57
-90.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22₱1,525
$95.8€85.2
-74.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.92₱247
$11.03€9.81
-64.46%
Cappuccino
$2.51₱158
$2.86€2.55
-12.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59₱100
$2.38€2.12
-33.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53₱33.43
$1.32€1.18
-59.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78₱112
$3.30€2.94
-46.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱137
$4.65€4.14
-53.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Gozo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92₱121
$1.19€1.06
61.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36₱85.4
$1.17€1.04
16.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01₱63.5
$2.80€2.49
-63.93%
Eggs
$2.03₱128
$2.86€2.55
-29.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.86₱621
$10.20€9.07
-3.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.39₱277
$7.81€6.94
-43.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60₱479
$18.33€16.30
-58.54%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30₱208
$2.70€2.40
22.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39₱87.8
$2.31€2.06
-39.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33₱147
$2.55€2.26
-8.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50₱94.3
$1.54€1.37
-2.60%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36₱149
$1.86€1.66
26.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90₱119
$1.41€1.25
34.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₱74.9
$1.42€1.26
-16.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63₱39.71
$1.05€0.93
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00₱189
$6.22€5.53
-51.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.03₱379
$3.24€2.88
86.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23₱77.7
$1.49€1.33
-17.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75₱110
$1.16€1.03
50.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Gozo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.86
$2.84€2.53
-91.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.64₱796
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77₱48.62
$3.99€3.55
-80.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱14.53
$1.80€1.60
-87.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.46₱281
$33.01€29.36
-86.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31₱82.8
$1.48€1.32
-11.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K₱1.3M
$28.4K€25.3K
-25.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K₱1.2M
$39.1K€34.7K
-50.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Gozo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120₱7,569
$94.1€83.7
27.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00₱882
$31.19€27.74
-55.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54₱1,734
$29.57€26.31
-6.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Gozo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.33₱2,035
$50.3€44.78
-35.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65₱419
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.65₱356
$11.15€9.92
-49.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Gozo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$275₱17.3K
$282€251
-2.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,918₱498.5K
$12.1K€10.8K
-34.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Gozo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33₱3,106
$57.4€51.1
-14.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24₱1,589
$49.45€43.98
-48.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0₱4,846
$64.4€57.2
19.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2₱3,601
$132€118
-56.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Gozo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500₱31.5K
$917€815
-45.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₱19.4K
$797€709
-61.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,078₱67.9K
$1,382€1,229
-22.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$615₱38.7K
$1,161€1,033
-47.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,886₱181.7K
$4,350€3,869
-33.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,917₱120.7K
$3,948€3,512
-51.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Gozo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$346₱21.8K
$1,287€1,145
-73.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
3.78
90.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026
Last update for Gozo: October 12, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309 33.6%
Gozo
$797 44.3% ↑ 158%$489
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206 22.4%
Gozo
$259 14.4% ↑ 25.8%$53
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162 17.6%
Gozo
$155 8.6% ↓ 4.3%$6.9
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94 10.2%
Gozo
$137 7.6% ↑ 45.4%$43
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Gozo
$356 19.8% ↑ 303%$268
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44 4.8%
Gozo
$73 4% ↑ 66.5%$29
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$16 1.7%
Gozo
$24 * 1.4% ↑ 56.5%$8.8
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$615 32.4%
Gozo
$1.2K 31.4% ↑ 88.7%$546
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$483 25.4%
Gozo
$616 16.7% ↑ 27.6%$133
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$176 9.3%
Gozo
$186 5% ↑ 5.9%$10
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$209 11%
Gozo
$303 8.2% ↑ 45.4%$95
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$292 15.4%
Gozo
$1.2K 33.2% ↑ 320%$936
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$94 4.9%
Gozo
$145 * 3.9% ↑ 54.7%$51
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$32 1.7%
Gozo
$54 * 1.5% ↑ 72%$23
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 $917 in Gozo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gozo pays 272% 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 $96.0 in Gozo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $259 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.
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 Gozo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gozo cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 96% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Gozo?
On paper, salaries run 272% lower in Gozo. 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 Gozo?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $917 in Gozo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cebu and in Gozo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Gozo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Gozo?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $1,801 in Gozo – a 96% 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 Gozo?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,801 in Gozo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Gozo. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Gozo more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Gozo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Gozo?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Gozo 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 96% less than in Gozo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.