Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Iligan City Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Iligan City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $936 in Cebu versus $724 in Iligan City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,427 in Cebu versus $1,112 in Iligan City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,918 in Cebu versus $1,499 in Iligan City.

Living in Cebu is roughly 29% more expensive than in Iligan City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Iligan City 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.09 ₱193

$3.80 ₱238

-18.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.80 ₱1,488

$15.11 ₱945

57.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.10 ₱257

$2.86 ₱179

43.36%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$2.02 ₱126

28.71%

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

$1.55 ₱96.9

$0.58 ₱36.30

167.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.46

$0.32 ₱19.72

68.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 ₱108

$1.12 ₱70.3

54.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱137

$1.91 ₱120

14.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱120

$2.02 ₱126

-4.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 ₱87.1

$1.16 ₱72.6

19.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ₱60.8

$0.91 ₱57.0

6.59%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱125

$1.97 ₱123

1.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.93 ₱621

$5.40 ₱338

83.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.38 ₱274

$4.46 ₱279

-1.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.41 ₱463

$7.02 ₱439

5.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 ₱217

$2.38 ₱149

45.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₱91.7

$1.56 ₱97.6

-5.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱151

$2.44 ₱153

-1.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₱96.5

$1.17 ₱73.2

31.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.36 ₱148

$2.06 ₱129

14.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ₱119

$2.01 ₱125

-4.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₱77.3

$0.77 ₱48.09

61.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₱41.43

$0.53 ₱33.23

24.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 ₱188

$3.09 ₱193

-2.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.08 ₱381

$7.93 ₱496

-23.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₱81.8

$0.94 ₱58.7

39.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₱108

$1.70 ₱106

1.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.65

$0.25 ₱15.45

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.73 ₱796

$11.85 ₱741

7.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₱46.79

$0.75 ₱46.98

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.41

$0.23 ₱14.10

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 ₱288

$1.83 ₱114

151.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₱83.7

$1.10 ₱68.6

21.82%

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

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$24.6K ₱1.5M

-11.63%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$17.3K ₱1.1M

12.20%

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

$121 ₱7,565

$110 ₱6,883

9.91%

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

$14.86 ₱929

$15.02 ₱939

-1.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.84 ₱1,741

$24.78 ₱1,550

12.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.06 ₱2,005

$32.53 ₱2,035

-1.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.43 ₱402

$5.39 ₱337

19.29%

Cinema Ticket

$5.64 ₱352

$5.32 ₱333

6.02%

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

$273 ₱17.1K

$141 ₱8,837

93.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,017 ₱501.4K

$7,245 ₱453.1K

10.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.77 ₱3,050

$31.78 ₱1,987

53.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 ₱1,594

$17.11 ₱1,070

48.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 ₱4,884

$70.7 ₱4,424

10.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.8 ₱3,617

$54.2 ₱3,392

6.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱31.3K

$114 ₱7,101

340.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 ₱18.7K

$171 ₱10.7K

75.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 ₱68.1K

$509 ₱31.8K

113.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₱39.5K

$346 ₱21.7K

82.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,888 ₱180.6K

$2,738 ₱171.2K

5.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,877 ₱117.4K

$1,143 ₱71.5K

64.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.7K

$199 ₱12.5K

73.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

6.75

6.67%

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

Last update for Cebu: August 30, 2026

Last update for Iligan City: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $114 in Iligan City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 74% 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 $15.00 in Iligan City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $183 per month, with Iligan City cheaper across the board.

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 Iligan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iligan City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 74% 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 $114 in Iligan City. 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 $724 in Iligan City – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Iligan City runs roughly 7% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $724 in Iligan City versus $936 in Cebu, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Iligan City but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Iligan City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Iligan City 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 Iligan City 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 Iligan City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.