Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Magallanes, Cavite Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Magallanes, Cavite

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $924 in Cebu versus $730 in Magallanes, Cavite.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,414 in Cebu versus $1,121 in Magallanes, Cavite.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,905 in Cebu versus $1,511 in Magallanes, Cavite.

Living in Cebu is roughly 26% more expensive than in Magallanes, Cavite, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 33% lower, Magallanes, Cavite 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 ₱192

$3.71 ₱232

-17.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.18 ₱1,453

$16.89 ₱1,059

37.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.04 ₱253

$2.78 ₱174

45.32%

Cappuccino

$2.49 ₱156

$2.15 ₱135

15.81%

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

$1.52 ₱95.3

$0.59 ₱36.98

157.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱30.70

$0.34 ₱21.42

44.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 ₱113

$1.07 ₱67.2

68.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₱144

$1.85 ₱116

23.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱121

$1.67 ₱105

14.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 ₱87.3

$1.16 ₱72.6

19.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.6

$0.95 ₱59.9

6.32%

Eggs

$2.03 ₱127

$1.89 ₱119

7.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.87 ₱619

$5.29 ₱331

86.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱283

$4.16 ₱261

8.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.59 ₱476

$7.05 ₱442

7.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 ₱209

$2.32 ₱145

43.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 ₱87.7

$1.59 ₱99.8

-11.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱151

$2.35 ₱147

2.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ₱97.1

$1.19 ₱74.8

30.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 ₱154

$2.05 ₱129

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.97 ₱123

-3.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 ₱76.9

$0.83 ₱51.9

48.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₱38.80

$0.56 ₱35.00

10.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ₱180

$2.93 ₱184

-2.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.30 ₱395

$7.84 ₱491

-19.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 ₱81.2

$0.94 ₱58.9

38.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 ₱110

$1.93 ₱121

-9.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.30

$0.25 ₱15.61

-8.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.66 ₱794

$11.32 ₱710

11.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₱46.79

$0.77 ₱48.12

-2.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.42

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.33 ₱272

$1.90 ₱119

127.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ₱79.3

$1.16 ₱72.9

8.62%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

-0.52%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

1.46%

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

$121 ₱7,586

$123 ₱7,705

-1.55%

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

$15.07 ₱944

$15.20 ₱953

-0.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.29 ₱1,711

$24.77 ₱1,553

10.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.26 ₱2,022

$32.34 ₱2,027

-0.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.38 ₱400

$4.82 ₱302

32.37%

Cinema Ticket

$5.63 ₱353

$5.13 ₱322

9.75%

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

$281 ₱17.6K

$134 ₱8,428

109.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,117 ₱508.9K

$7,966 ₱499.4K

1.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.04 ₱3,074

$31.67 ₱1,985

54.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.72 ₱1,550

$19.75 ₱1,238

25.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 ₱4,886

$71.5 ₱4,482

9.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.3 ₱3,656

$56.1 ₱3,517

3.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$503 ₱31.5K

$272 ₱17.1K

84.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₱19.2K

$171 ₱10.7K

79.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 ₱68.1K

$493 ₱30.9K

120.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₱39.6K

$347 ₱21.7K

82.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,868 ₱179.8K

$2,591 ₱162.4K

10.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,891 ₱118.5K

$1,051 ₱65.9K

79.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

6.75

6.67%

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

Last update for Cebu: September 7, 2026

Last update for Magallanes, Cavite: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $503 in Cebu and $272 in Magallanes, Cavite. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Cebu vs $17.00 in Magallanes, Cavite for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $178 per month, with Magallanes, Cavite 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 Magallanes, Cavite: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Magallanes, Cavite is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,386 in Cebu and $1,095 in Magallanes, Cavite 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: $503 in Cebu versus $272 in Magallanes, Cavite. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $924 per month in Cebu versus $730 in Magallanes, Cavite – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Magallanes, Cavite runs roughly 12% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $730 in Magallanes, Cavite versus $924 in Cebu, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Magallanes, Cavite but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Magallanes, Cavite the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Magallanes, Cavite 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 Magallanes, Cavite 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 Magallanes, Cavite gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.