Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Iloilo Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Iloilo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $924 in Cebu versus $659 in Iloilo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,414 in Cebu versus $1,029 in Iloilo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,905 in Cebu versus $1,399 in Iloilo.

Living in Cebu is roughly 40% more expensive than in Iloilo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 33% lower, Iloilo 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 ₱192

$2.86 ₱179

7.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.18 ₱1,453

$19.10 ₱1,198

21.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.04 ₱253

$3.25 ₱204

24.31%

Cappuccino

$2.49 ₱156

$2.03 ₱127

22.66%

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

$1.52 ₱95.3

$0.68 ₱42.66

123.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱30.70

$0.34 ₱21.35

44.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 ₱113

$1.09 ₱68.4

65.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₱144

$1.72 ₱108

33.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱121

$1.67 ₱105

14.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 ₱87.3

$1.17 ₱73.3

18.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.6

$0.84 ₱52.8

20.24%

Eggs

$2.03 ₱127

$2.05 ₱128

-0.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.87 ₱619

$5.92 ₱371

66.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱283

$4.17 ₱261

8.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.59 ₱476

$6.24 ₱391

21.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 ₱209

$3.38 ₱212

-1.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 ₱87.7

$1.08 ₱67.6

29.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱151

$3.06 ₱192

-21.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ₱97.1

$1.39 ₱86.8

11.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 ₱154

$2.39 ₱150

2.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ₱120

$2.79 ₱175

-31.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 ₱76.9

$1.41 ₱88.6

-12.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₱38.80

$0.79 ₱49.42

-21.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ₱180

$3.11 ₱195

-7.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.30 ₱395

$6.51 ₱408

-3.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 ₱81.2

$1.15 ₱72.0

13.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 ₱110

$1.31 ₱81.8

33.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.30

$0.24 ₱15.12

-4.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.66 ₱794

$4.68 ₱294

170.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₱46.79

$0.69 ₱43.28

8.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.42

$0.33 ₱20.96

-30.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.33 ₱272

$2.32 ₱146

86.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ₱79.3

$1.09 ₱68.4

15.60%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

-0.34%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-0.17%

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

$121 ₱7,586

$63.0 ₱3,947

92.22%

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

$15.07 ₱944

$9.43 ₱591

59.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.29 ₱1,711

$26.92 ₱1,688

1.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.26 ₱2,022

$9.44 ₱592

241.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.38 ₱400

Cinema Ticket

$5.63 ₱353

$4.84 ₱303

16.32%

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

$281 ₱17.6K

$31.45 ₱1,972

793.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,117 ₱508.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.04 ₱3,074

$23.62 ₱1,481

107.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.72 ₱1,550

$17.35 ₱1,088

42.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 ₱4,886

$56.1 ₱3,515

39.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.3 ₱3,656

$24.32 ₱1,525

139.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$503 ₱31.5K

$294 ₱18.4K

71.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₱19.2K

$232 ₱14.5K

32.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 ₱68.1K

$1,260 ₱79.0K

-13.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₱39.6K

$426 ₱26.7K

48.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,868 ₱179.8K

$3,706 ₱232.3K

-22.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,891 ₱118.5K

$1,052 ₱66.0K

79.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.7K

$205 ₱12.9K

68.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

7.33

-1.77%

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

Last update for Cebu: September 7, 2026

Last update for Iloilo: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $503 in Cebu and $294 in Iloilo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 69% 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: $23.00 in Cebu vs $19.00 in Iloilo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $189 per month, with Iloilo 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 Iloilo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iloilo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 69% 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: $503 in Cebu versus $294 in Iloilo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $924 per month in Cebu versus $659 in Iloilo – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Iloilo runs roughly 171% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $659 in Iloilo versus $924 in Cebu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Iloilo but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Iloilo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Iloilo 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 Iloilo 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 Iloilo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.