Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Island Garden City of Samal Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Island Garden City of Samal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $873 in Cebu versus $730 in Island Garden City of Samal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,339 in Cebu versus $1,092 in Island Garden City of Samal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,805 in Cebu versus $1,455 in Island Garden City of Samal.

Living in Cebu is roughly 20% more expensive than in Island Garden City of Samal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 35% lower, Island Garden City of Samal 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.39 ₱270

$1.30 ₱79.9

237.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.30 ₱1,496

$12.51 ₱770

94.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.53 ₱279

$4.56 ₱281

-0.66%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱155

$2.11 ₱130

19.43%

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

$0.80 ₱49.42

$0.80 ₱49.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱25.97

$0.53 ₱32.70

-20.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 ₱97.7

$1.38 ₱85.0

15.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.72 ₱106

27.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₱139

$1.27 ₱77.9

77.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱93.0

$0.60 ₱37.14

151.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ₱71.6

$0.74 ₱45.48

56.76%

Eggs

$2.36 ₱145

$2.02 ₱124

16.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.87 ₱792

$6.02 ₱371

113.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.38 ₱331

$3.26 ₱201

65.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.82 ₱481

$5.20 ₱320

50.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.53 ₱217

$3.01 ₱185

17.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₱92.9

$1.15 ₱70.5

31.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$2.36 ₱145

39.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.20 ₱136

$1.22 ₱75.4

80.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 ₱162

$2.26 ₱139

16.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 ₱152

$1.58 ₱97.2

55.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₱61.4

$0.92 ₱56.5

8.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱48.06

$0.47 ₱28.88

65.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 ₱191

$2.71 ₱167

14.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.43 ₱396

$7.96 ₱490

-19.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱71.7

$1.26 ₱77.5

-7.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.26 ₱77.7

77.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.80

$0.28 ₱17.34

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.36 ₱946

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱49.81

$0.69 ₱42.69

17.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.06

$0.08 ₱4.71

187.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 ₱163

$2.12 ₱130

24.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.7

$1.15 ₱70.7

-4.35%

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

$30.5K ₱1.9M

$22.0K ₱1.4M

38.21%

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

$27.7K ₱1.7M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

33.04%

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

$95.9 ₱5,904

$98.9 ₱6,091

-3.08%

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

$34.05 ₱2,096

$33.26 ₱2,048

2.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.86 ₱1,839

$35.67 ₱2,196

-16.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.32 ₱2,051

$34.59 ₱2,129

-3.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.45 ₱520

$4.44 ₱273

90.32%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱357

$4.54 ₱279

27.53%

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

$235 ₱14.5K

$118 ₱7,244

100.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,913 ₱240.9K

$4,242 ₱261.2K

-7.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 ₱3,272

$45.91 ₱2,826

15.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.65 ₱1,395

$30.60 ₱1,884

-25.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,685

$77.9 ₱4,798

-2.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.0 ₱3,383

$67.7 ₱4,169

-18.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$508 ₱31.3K

$265 ₱16.3K

91.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 ₱12.9K

$174 ₱10.7K

20.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$800 ₱49.3K

$593 ₱36.5K

34.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 ₱24.0K

$399 ₱24.6K

-2.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,013 ₱185.5K

$2,261 ₱139.2K

33.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,950 ₱120.1K

$933 ₱57.4K

109.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$340 ₱20.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.56

-16.32%

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

Last update for Cebu: July 14, 2026

Last update for Island Garden City of Samal: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $508 in Cebu and $265 in Island Garden City of Samal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $13.00 in Island Garden City of Samal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $161 per month, with Island Garden City of Samal 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 Island Garden City of Samal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Island Garden City of Samal is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,310 in Cebu and $1,094 in Island Garden City of Samal to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $508 in Cebu versus $265 in Island Garden City of Samal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 50% 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 $730 in Island Garden City of Samal – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $730 in Island Garden City of Samal versus $873 in Cebu, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Island Garden City of Samal but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Island Garden City of Samal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Island Garden City of Samal 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 Island Garden City of Samal 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 Island Garden City of Samal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.