Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Koh Phan Ghan Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Koh Phan Ghan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $873 in Cebu versus $1,096 in Koh Phan Ghan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,326 in Cebu versus $1,945 in Koh Phan Ghan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,778 in Cebu versus $2,794 in Koh Phan Ghan.

Living in Cebu costs roughly 20% less than in Koh Phan Ghan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 35% lower, Koh Phan Ghan 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.33 ₱267
$4.22 ฿138
2.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.14 ₱1,489
$41.00 ฿1,339
-41.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.36 ₱269
$7.88 ฿257
-44.67%
Cappuccino
$2.57 ₱159
$2.76 ฿90.3
-6.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ₱52.1
$0.61 ฿19.95
37.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ₱26.36
$0.36 ฿11.63
19.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.53 ₱94.5
$2.25 ฿73.4
-32.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 ₱130
$3.35 ฿109
-37.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.21 ₱137
$2.05 ฿67.0
7.80%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 ₱92.6
$1.75 ฿57.0
-14.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 ₱68.7
$2.08 ฿68.1
-46.63%
Eggs
$2.33 ₱144
$2.12 ฿69.2
9.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.03 ₱803
$18.91 ฿618
-31.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.35 ₱330
$3.60 ฿118
48.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.50 ₱462
$12.82 ฿419
-41.50%
Apples (1kg)
$3.57 ₱220
$3.16 ฿103
12.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₱89.4
$1.54 ฿50.4
-5.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.39 ₱209
$2.29 ฿74.9
48.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 ₱134
$1.91 ฿62.4
14.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.59 ₱160
$1.46 ฿47.61
77.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.48 ₱153
$1.43 ฿46.72
73.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 ₱56.6
$0.92 ฿29.93
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 ₱48.95
$0.49 ฿16.08
61.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.11 ₱192
$4.24 ฿138
-26.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.52 ₱402
$18.11 ฿592
-64.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 ₱74.4
$1.73 ฿56.6
-30.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 ₱143
$2.56 ฿83.7
-9.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₱17.41
$1.27 ฿41.41
-77.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.00 ₱925
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 ₱51.6
$2.69 ฿87.8
-68.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 ₱15.45
$0.87 ฿28.57
-71.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.69 ₱166
$12.31 ฿402
-78.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₱67.1
$1.17 ฿38.23
-6.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K ₱1.9M
$24.7K ฿805.1K
22.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ₱1.7M
$30.5K ฿997.3K
-11.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.4 ₱5,880
$122 ฿3,984
-21.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.83 ₱2,086
$13.49 ฿441
150.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.78 ₱1,836
$18.78 ฿614
58.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.91 ₱2,029
$60.1 ฿1,964
-45.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.43 ₱520
$16.94 ฿553
-50.24%
Cinema Ticket
$5.84 ₱360
$9.15 ฿299
-36.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$233 ₱14.3K
$693 ฿22.6K
-66.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,894 ₱240.1K
$16.0K ฿522.2K
-75.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ₱3,297
$57.9 ฿1,892
-7.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.75 ₱1,403
$34.07 ฿1,113
-33.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.7 ₱4,729
$116 ฿3,775
-33.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.5 ₱3,359
$83.4 ฿2,723
-34.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$515 ₱31.8K
$425 ฿13.9K
21.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$209 ₱12.9K
$313 ฿10.2K
-33.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$805 ₱49.6K
$1,432 ฿46.8K
-43.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$397 ₱24.5K
$1,044 ฿34.1K
-61.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,955 ₱182.2K
$2,558 ฿83.5K
15.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,923 ₱118.6K
$1,826 ฿59.6K
5.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$364 ₱22.5K
$744 ฿24.3K
-51.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
5.33
50.09%

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

Last update for Cebu: June 2, 2026

Last update for Koh Phan Ghan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Cebu and $425 in Koh Phan Ghan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Koh Phan Ghan pays 104% 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 $41.00 in Koh Phan Ghan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $279 per month, with Cebu 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 Koh Phan Ghan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Koh Phan Ghan cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Koh Phan Ghan?
On paper, Koh Phan Ghan earns 104% less. 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 Koh Phan Ghan?
Rent for a central apartment: $515 in Cebu versus $425 in Koh Phan Ghan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cebu and Koh Phan Ghan?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Koh Phan Ghan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu vs Koh Phan Ghan?
All in, you'll spend $873 per month in Cebu versus $1,096 in Koh Phan Ghan – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Cebu or Koh Phan Ghan?
At $873 in Cebu versus $1,096 in Koh Phan Ghan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Koh Phan Ghan. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Koh Phan Ghan more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Koh Phan Ghan, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Koh Phan Ghan?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Koh Phan Ghan 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 26% less than in Koh Phan Ghan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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