For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $1,093 in Jubail, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. The total is higher in Jubail despite lower rent and utilities.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cebu and in Jubail actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $934 in Cebu versus $1,093 in Jubail.
Cebu $934
Jubail $1,093
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,415 in Cebu versus $1,699 in Jubail.
Cebu $1,415
Jubail $1,699
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,896 in Cebu versus $2,305 in Jubail.
Cebu $1,896
Jubail $2,305
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 15% less than in Jubail, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu30% lower, Jubail18% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Jubail
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03₱190
$6.72SAR 25.22
-54.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48₱1,473
$40.26SAR 151
-41.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.09₱256
$9.30SAR 34.93
-56.02%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.82SAR 6.82
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.34SAR 8.78
-
Cappuccino
$2.52₱158
$4.03SAR 15.14
-37.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54₱96.9
$0.98SAR 3.69
57.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49₱30.98
$0.26SAR 0.97
88.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79₱112
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26₱142
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Jubail
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95₱122
$1.52SAR 5.70
28.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43₱89.7
$1.40SAR 5.25
2.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02₱63.8
$1.59SAR 5.98
-35.85%
Eggs
$2.06₱129
$2.06SAR 7.75
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81₱615
$9.90SAR 37.17
-0.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.61₱289
$6.45SAR 24.22
-28.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.70₱483
$11.74SAR 44.07
-34.41%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31₱207
$2.16SAR 8.12
53.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45₱90.9
$1.74SAR 6.55
-16.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.36₱148
$1.50SAR 5.62
57.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54₱96.4
$1.67SAR 6.26
-7.78%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36₱148
$1.29SAR 4.86
82.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99₱125
$1.33SAR 5.00
49.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15₱72.1
$1.70SAR 6.37
-32.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67₱42.15
$0.55SAR 2.06
21.82%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.86SAR 10.72
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.17SAR 8.16
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.11SAR 7.91
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00₱188
$6.51SAR 24.45
-53.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.35₱398
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31₱81.9
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73₱108
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Jubail
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.78
$1.30SAR 4.88
-80.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.65₱793
$23.68SAR 88.9
-46.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74₱46.32
$3.35SAR 12.58
-77.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.21₱13.11
$2.63SAR 9.86
-92.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.33₱271
$13.42SAR 50.4
-67.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₱83.5
$0.64SAR 2.39
107.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K₱1.4M
$44.8KSAR 168.2K
-51.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K₱1.2M
$21.3KSAR 79.9K
-8.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Jubail
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121₱7,563
$80.7SAR 303
49.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.45₱907
$27.59SAR 104
-47.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.29₱1,774
$66.5SAR 250
-57.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Jubail
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.68₱2,050
$103SAR 386
-68.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.39₱401
$40.07SAR 150
-84.05%
Cinema Ticket
$5.46₱342
$13.42SAR 50.4
-59.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Jubail
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$273₱17.1K
$181SAR 681
50.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,156₱511.5K
$7,911SAR 29.7K
3.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Jubail
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.57₱3,109
$41.97SAR 158
18.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.87₱1,560
$60.3SAR 226
-58.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.6₱4,804
$82.3SAR 309
-6.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3₱3,717
$87.5SAR 329
-32.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Jubail
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$506₱31.7K
$430SAR 1,614
17.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₱19.4K
$298SAR 1,119
3.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,052₱66.0K
$648SAR 2,433
62.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$619₱38.8K
$538SAR 2,021
14.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,915₱182.9K
$2,805SAR 10.5K
3.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,867₱117.1K
$1,366SAR 5,131
36.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Jubail
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$341₱21.4K
$1,622SAR 6,090
-78.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
5.62
28.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026
Last update for Jubail: October 3, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309 33.5%
Jubail
$298 27.1% ↓ 3.7%$11
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210 22.7%
Jubail
$196 17.8% ↓ 6.6%$14
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163 17.7%
Jubail
$175 15.9% ↑ 7%$11
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$95 10.2%
Jubail
$122 11.1% ↑ 29.4%$28
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Jubail
$135 12.3% ↑ 52.7%$47
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44 4.7%
Jubail
$130 11.8% ↑ 197%$86
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$15 1.7%
Jubail
$45 4.1% ↑ 194%$30
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$619 32.4%
Jubail
$538 22.8% ↓ 13%$81
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$493 25.8%
Jubail
$478 20.3% ↓ 2.9%$14
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$178 9.3%
Jubail
$202 8.6% ↑ 13.8%$25
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$210 11%
Jubail
$272 11.6% ↑ 29.4%$62
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$288 15.1%
Jubail
$473 20.1% ↑ 63.9%$184
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$94 4.9%
Jubail
$299 12.7% ↑ 220%$206
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$31 1.6%
Jubail
$93 4% ↑ 197%$62
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $506 in Cebu and $430 in Jubail. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jubail pays 375% 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: $23.00 in Cebu vs $40.00 in Jubail. Groceries flip the comparison at $210 vs $196, with Jubail cheaper for home cooking.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 Jubail: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jubail cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in clothing, eating out, and leisure. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Jubail?
On paper, salaries run 375% lower in Jubail. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Cebu and Jubail?
Rent for a central apartment: $506 in Cebu versus $430 in Jubail. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Jubail?
All in, you'll spend $934 per month in Cebu versus $1,093 in Jubail – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Cebu runs roughly 87% less than in Jubail. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cebu or in Jubail?
At $934 in Cebu versus $1,093 in Jubail, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Jubail. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Jubail more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Jubail, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Jubail?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Jubail are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Jubail. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.