Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Imus Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Imus

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $873 in Cebu versus $760 in Imus.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,326 in Cebu versus $1,138 in Imus.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,778 in Cebu versus $1,516 in Imus.

Living in Cebu is roughly 15% more expensive than Imus, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 35% lower, Imus 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.33 ₱267

$4.30 ₱265

0.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.14 ₱1,489

$21.66 ₱1,336

11.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.36 ₱269

$3.14 ₱193

38.85%

Cappuccino

$2.57 ₱159

$2.83 ₱175

-9.19%

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

$0.84 ₱52.1

$0.87 ₱53.7

-3.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱26.36

$0.34 ₱21.09

26.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱94.5

$1.27 ₱78.2

20.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.72 ₱168

-22.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 ₱137

$2.19 ₱135

0.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ₱92.6

$1.24 ₱76.5

20.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.7

$1.01 ₱62.3

9.90%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.02 ₱124

15.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 ₱803

$7.19 ₱443

81.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ₱330

$4.27 ₱264

25.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₱462

$7.14 ₱440

5.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 ₱220

$2.29 ₱141

55.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱89.4

$1.51 ₱93.4

-3.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 ₱209

$3.01 ₱186

12.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 ₱134

$1.65 ₱102

32.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.59 ₱160

$1.75 ₱108

48.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.48 ₱153

$3.55 ₱219

-30.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.6

$1.59 ₱97.9

-42.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.95

$0.90 ₱55.4

-12.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.11 ₱192

$3.14 ₱194

-0.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.52 ₱402

$8.96 ₱552

-27.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.4

$1.40 ₱86.5

-13.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$1.95 ₱120

18.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.41

$0.43 ₱26.25

-34.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.00 ₱925

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱51.6

$0.83 ₱51.2

1.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.45

$0.24 ₱14.82

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 ₱166

$2.12 ₱131

26.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.1

$1.16 ₱71.6

-6.03%

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

$30.1K ₱1.9M

$26.1K ₱1.6M

15.36%

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

$27.0K ₱1.7M

$17.9K ₱1.1M

50.62%

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

$95.4 ₱5,880

$129 ₱7,952

-26.05%

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

$33.83 ₱2,086

$33.30 ₱2,054

1.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.78 ₱1,836

$26.95 ₱1,662

10.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.91 ₱2,029

$34.20 ₱2,109

-3.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.43 ₱520

$4.48 ₱277

88.17%

Cinema Ticket

$5.84 ₱360

$7.16 ₱441

-18.44%

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

$233 ₱14.3K

$80.8 ₱4,982

187.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,894 ₱240.1K

$4,376 ₱269.8K

-11.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ₱3,297

$31.51 ₱1,943

69.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.75 ₱1,403

$29.33 ₱1,809

-22.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 ₱4,729

$67.4 ₱4,154

13.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 ₱3,359

$93.8 ₱5,785

-41.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₱31.8K

$133 ₱8,186

287.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 ₱12.9K

$111 ₱6,816

88.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 ₱49.6K

$218 ₱13.4K

268.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱24.5K

$183 ₱11.3K

117.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,955 ₱182.2K

$2,311 ₱142.5K

27.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,923 ₱118.6K

$957 ₱59.0K

100.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$364 ₱22.5K

$177 ₱10.9K

105.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

29.66%

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

Last update for Cebu: June 2, 2026

Last update for Imus: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Cebu and $133 in Imus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 105% 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 Imus for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $210 per month, with Imus 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 Imus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Imus is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Cebu pays 105% 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: $515 in Cebu versus $133 in Imus. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $873 per month in Cebu versus $760 in Imus – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $760 in Imus versus $873 in Cebu, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Imus but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Imus the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Imus 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 Imus 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 Imus gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.