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: $854 in Cebu versus $695 in Iloilo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,318 in Cebu versus $1,054 in Iloilo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,782 in Cebu versus $1,413 in Iloilo.

Living in Cebu is roughly 23% more expensive than Iloilo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 36% lower, Iloilo 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.40 ₱271

$2.69 ₱166

63.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.98 ₱1,479

$21.66 ₱1,336

10.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.50 ₱216

29.71%

Cappuccino

$2.53 ₱156

$2.00 ₱124

26.50%

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

$0.85 ₱52.6

$0.57 ₱35.42

49.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.85

$0.32 ₱19.77

40.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱93.6

$0.94 ₱57.8

61.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.75 ₱108

25.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 ₱142

$1.80 ₱111

27.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ₱96.8

$1.21 ₱74.7

29.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ₱71.2

$0.89 ₱55.1

29.21%

Eggs

$2.36 ₱146

$2.24 ₱138

5.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 ₱804

$5.80 ₱358

124.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.10 ₱314

$4.19 ₱259

21.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 ₱490

$7.05 ₱435

12.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 ₱215

$3.72 ₱229

-6.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₱92.9

$1.19 ₱73.2

26.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$3.31 ₱204

-0.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.60 ₱98.9

36.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.55 ₱157

2.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₱151

$3.05 ₱188

-19.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.9

$1.69 ₱104

-45.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.4

$0.90 ₱55.6

-7.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.27 ₱202

$3.10 ₱191

5.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 ₱416

$5.70 ₱351

18.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.7

$1.29 ₱79.7

-6.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱140

$1.45 ₱89.4

56.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.37

$0.23 ₱14.18

21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.14 ₱934

$5.11 ₱315

196.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.6

$0.68 ₱42.18

27.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.50

$0.31 ₱19.39

-19.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.60 ₱160

0.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱70.3

$1.13 ₱69.7

0.88%

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

$29.6K ₱1.8M

$24.4K ₱1.5M

21.31%

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

$27.0K ₱1.7M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

39.71%

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

$95.2 ₱5,870

$66.7 ₱4,115

42.64%

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

$33.67 ₱2,077

$31.70 ₱1,955

6.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.79 ₱1,837

$29.55 ₱1,823

0.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.90 ₱2,029

$26.75 ₱1,650

22.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.16 ₱503

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱357

$5.42 ₱335

6.83%

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

$232 ₱14.3K

$35.20 ₱2,171

559.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,860 ₱238.1K

$4,394 ₱271.0K

-12.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 ₱3,214

$45.02 ₱2,777

15.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.82 ₱1,407

$23.36 ₱1,441

-2.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ₱4,736

$62.8 ₱3,875

22.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.3 ₱3,351

$26.69 ₱1,646

103.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 ₱30.6K

$233 ₱14.3K

113.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 ₱13.2K

$177 ₱10.9K

20.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ₱49.2K

$350 ₱21.6K

127.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₱23.8K

$286 ₱17.6K

34.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,968 ₱183.1K

$3,857 ₱237.9K

-23.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,963 ₱121.1K

$1,051 ₱64.8K

86.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$383 ₱23.6K

$207 ₱12.8K

85.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Cebu: April 28, 2026

Last update for Iloilo: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $497 in Cebu and $233 in Iloilo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 85% 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 $22.00 in Iloilo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $201 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Cebu pays 85% more on average, 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: $497 in Cebu versus $233 in Iloilo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $854 per month in Cebu versus $695 in Iloilo – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Iloilo runs roughly 196% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $695 in Iloilo versus $854 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 23% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.