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 $732 in Island Garden City of Samal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,326 in Cebu versus $1,109 in Island Garden City of Samal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,778 in Cebu versus $1,486 in Island Garden City of Samal.

Living in Cebu is roughly 19% more expensive than 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

$4.33 ₱267

$1.37 ₱84.4

216.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.14 ₱1,489

$12.16 ₱750

98.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.36 ₱269

$4.52 ₱279

-3.54%

Cappuccino

$2.57 ₱159

$2.11 ₱130

21.80%

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

$0.84 ₱52.1

$0.87 ₱54.0

-3.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱26.36

$0.53 ₱32.40

-18.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱94.5

$1.41 ₱86.9

8.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.73 ₱107

21.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 ₱137

$1.27 ₱78.6

74.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ₱92.6

$0.57 ₱34.87

163.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.7

$0.73 ₱45.13

52.05%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$1.99 ₱123

17.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 ₱803

$6.10 ₱376

113.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ₱330

$3.21 ₱198

66.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₱462

$5.06 ₱312

48.22%

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 ₱220

$2.96 ₱182

20.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱89.4

$1.14 ₱70.5

27.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 ₱209

$2.37 ₱146

43.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 ₱134

$1.28 ₱78.7

70.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.59 ₱160

$2.26 ₱139

14.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.48 ₱153

$1.59 ₱97.9

55.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.6

$0.93 ₱57.2

-1.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.95

$0.46 ₱28.38

71.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.11 ₱192

$2.62 ₱162

18.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.52 ₱402

$7.93 ₱489

-17.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.4

$1.30 ₱79.9

-6.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$1.23 ₱75.7

88.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.41

$0.26 ₱15.98

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.00 ₱925

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱51.6

$0.68 ₱41.77

23.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.45

$0.10 ₱6.28

150.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 ₱166

$2.18 ₱135

23.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.1

$1.14 ₱70.4

-4.39%

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

$30.1K ₱1.9M

$21.8K ₱1.3M

38.37%

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

$27.0K ₱1.7M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

29.59%

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

$95.4 ₱5,880

$101 ₱6,243

-5.82%

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

$33.83 ₱2,086

$34.30 ₱2,115

-1.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.78 ₱1,836

$36.07 ₱2,224

-17.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.91 ₱2,029

$33.73 ₱2,080

-2.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.43 ₱520

$4.48 ₱276

88.17%

Cinema Ticket

$5.84 ₱360

$4.31 ₱265

35.50%

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

$233 ₱14.3K

$120 ₱7,375

94.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,894 ₱240.1K

$4,290 ₱264.5K

-9.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ₱3,297

$46.00 ₱2,836

16.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.75 ₱1,403

$30.70 ₱1,893

-25.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 ₱4,729

$78.6 ₱4,845

-2.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 ₱3,359

$68.9 ₱4,246

-20.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₱31.8K

$264 ₱16.3K

95.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 ₱12.9K

$173 ₱10.7K

20.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 ₱49.6K

$591 ₱36.4K

36.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱24.5K

$398 ₱24.5K

-0.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,955 ₱182.2K

$2,454 ₱151.3K

20.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,923 ₱118.6K

$838 ₱51.7K

129.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$364 ₱22.5K

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Island Garden City of Samal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Cebu and $264 in Island Garden City of Samal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $12.00 in Island Garden City of Samal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $160 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 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,309 in Cebu and $1,098 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: $515 in Cebu versus $264 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 $732 in Island Garden City of Samal – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $732 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 19% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.