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: $869 in Cebu versus $683 in Iloilo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,352 in Cebu versus $1,032 in Iloilo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Cebu versus $1,382 in Iloilo.

Living in Cebu is roughly 27% more expensive than in Iloilo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 35% lower, Iloilo 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.52 ₱274

$2.58 ₱156

75.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.52 ₱1,484

$21.24 ₱1,286

15.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱275

$3.46 ₱210

31.50%

Cappuccino

$2.55 ₱154

$2.08 ₱126

22.60%

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

$0.86 ₱52.1

$0.53 ₱32.09

62.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱25.47

$0.30 ₱18.11

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 ₱91.6

$0.93 ₱56.6

62.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱130

$1.80 ₱109

18.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 ₱141

$1.81 ₱110

28.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 ₱91.8

$1.20 ₱72.9

26.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.7

$0.86 ₱52.4

30.23%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱140

$2.28 ₱138

1.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.70 ₱769

$5.99 ₱363

112.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱315

$4.32 ₱262

20.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 ₱477

$6.87 ₱416

14.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 ₱212

$3.59 ₱217

-2.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱87.9

$1.19 ₱72.1

21.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.27 ₱198

$3.37 ₱204

-2.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.20 ₱133

$1.61 ₱97.4

36.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 ₱156

$2.64 ₱160

-2.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 ₱156

$3.04 ₱184

-15.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ₱56.5

$1.69 ₱102

-44.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱47.72

$0.87 ₱52.4

-9.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱192

$3.24 ₱196

-1.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.44 ₱390

$5.78 ₱350

11.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱72.5

$1.30 ₱78.5

-7.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 ₱142

$1.45 ₱88.0

62.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.13

$0.23 ₱13.87

21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.34 ₱929

$5.05 ₱306

203.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱52.9

$0.74 ₱44.75

17.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.24

$0.31 ₱18.91

-19.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 ₱163

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱66.4

$1.13 ₱68.5

-2.65%

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

$30.2K ₱1.8M

$23.9K ₱1.4M

26.29%

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

$26.9K ₱1.6M

$19.5K ₱1.2M

37.45%

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

$98.3 ₱5,953

$66.3 ₱4,016

48.26%

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

$34.89 ₱2,112

$31.48 ₱1,906

10.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.76 ₱1,802

$30.53 ₱1,849

-2.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.66 ₱1,977

$27.56 ₱1,668

18.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.43 ₱510

Cinema Ticket

$6.01 ₱364

$5.21 ₱316

15.36%

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

$235 ₱14.3K

$35.10 ₱2,125

570.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,936 ₱238.3K

$4,377 ₱265.0K

-10.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 ₱3,125

$45.04 ₱2,727

14.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.19 ₱1,404

$23.15 ₱1,402

0.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.3 ₱4,501

$62.4 ₱3,778

19.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.7 ₱3,373

$26.18 ₱1,585

112.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 ₱30.2K

$235 ₱14.2K

111.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 ₱12.7K

$176 ₱10.7K

19.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$783 ₱47.4K

$353 ₱21.3K

122.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 ₱23.4K

$280 ₱17.0K

37.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,095 ₱187.4K

$3,804 ₱230.3K

-18.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,981 ₱119.9K

$1,089 ₱65.9K

81.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$373 ₱22.6K

$231 ₱14.0K

61.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Cebu: June 13, 2026

Last update for Iloilo: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $498 in Cebu and $235 in Iloilo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 61% 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: $25.00 in Cebu vs $21.00 in Iloilo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $202 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 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 61% 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: $498 in Cebu versus $235 in Iloilo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $869 per month in Cebu versus $683 in Iloilo – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Iloilo runs roughly 204% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $683 in Iloilo versus $869 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 27% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.