Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Jubail

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.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Jubail
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,093
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Jubail

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: Cebu 30% lower, Jubail 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Jubail
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03 ₱190
$6.72 SAR 25.22
-54.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48 ₱1,473
$40.26 SAR 151
-41.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.09 ₱256
$9.30 SAR 34.93
-56.02%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.82 SAR 6.82
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.34 SAR 8.78
-
Cappuccino
$2.52 ₱158
$4.03 SAR 15.14
-37.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₱96.9
$0.98 SAR 3.69
57.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₱30.98
$0.26 SAR 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
$1.52 SAR 5.70
28.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ₱89.7
$1.40 SAR 5.25
2.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 ₱63.8
$1.59 SAR 5.98
-35.85%
Eggs
$2.06 ₱129
$2.06 SAR 7.75
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 ₱615
$9.90 SAR 37.17
-0.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.61 ₱289
$6.45 SAR 24.22
-28.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.70 ₱483
$11.74 SAR 44.07
-34.41%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 ₱207
$2.16 SAR 8.12
53.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₱90.9
$1.74 SAR 6.55
-16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$1.50 SAR 5.62
57.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ₱96.4
$1.67 SAR 6.26
-7.78%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$1.29 SAR 4.86
82.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 ₱125
$1.33 SAR 5.00
49.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 ₱72.1
$1.70 SAR 6.37
-32.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₱42.15
$0.55 SAR 2.06
21.82%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$2.86 SAR 10.72
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.17 SAR 8.16
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.11 SAR 7.91
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱188
$6.51 SAR 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
$1.30 SAR 4.88
-80.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.65 ₱793
$23.68 SAR 88.9
-46.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱46.32
$3.35 SAR 12.58
-77.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.11
$2.63 SAR 9.86
-92.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.33 ₱271
$13.42 SAR 50.4
-67.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₱83.5
$0.64 SAR 2.39
107.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₱1.4M
$44.8K SAR 168.2K
-51.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ₱1.2M
$21.3K SAR 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
$80.7 SAR 303
49.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.45 ₱907
$27.59 SAR 104
-47.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.29 ₱1,774
$66.5 SAR 250
-57.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Jubail
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.68 ₱2,050
$103 SAR 386
-68.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.39 ₱401
$40.07 SAR 150
-84.05%
Cinema Ticket
$5.46 ₱342
$13.42 SAR 50.4
-59.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Jubail
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$273 ₱17.1K
$181 SAR 681
50.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,156 ₱511.5K
$7,911 SAR 29.7K
3.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Jubail
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.57 ₱3,109
$41.97 SAR 158
18.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.87 ₱1,560
$60.3 SAR 226
-58.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 ₱4,804
$82.3 SAR 309
-6.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3 ₱3,717
$87.5 SAR 329
-32.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Jubail
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$506 ₱31.7K
$430 SAR 1,614
17.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$298 SAR 1,119
3.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,052 ₱66.0K
$648 SAR 2,433
62.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$619 ₱38.8K
$538 SAR 2,021
14.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,915 ₱182.9K
$2,805 SAR 10.5K
3.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,867 ₱117.1K
$1,366 SAR 5,131
36.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Jubail
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$341 ₱21.4K
$1,622 SAR 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.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Jubail
$298 3.7% $11
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210
Jubail
$196 6.6% $14
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163
Jubail
$175 7% $11
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$95
Jubail
$122 29.4% $28
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Jubail
$135 52.7% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Jubail
$130 197% $86
Getting Around
Cebu
$15
Jubail
$45 194% $30

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.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇸🇦 Jubail
🕒 Local time
16:26 4:26 PM
11:26 11:26 AM
5 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
337,778
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

SAR, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.35 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.21 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Jubail 7,940 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Jubail

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.

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