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: $867 in Cebu versus $768 in Magallanes, Cavite.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,349 in Cebu versus $1,193 in Magallanes, Cavite.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,832 in Cebu versus $1,617 in Magallanes, Cavite.

Living in Cebu is roughly 13% more expensive than Magallanes, Cavite, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 36% lower, Magallanes, Cavite 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.40 ₱267

$3.64 ₱221

20.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.84 ₱1,448

$18.06 ₱1,097

32.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.50 ₱273

$3.22 ₱195

39.75%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱161

$2.48 ₱150

6.85%

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

$0.80 ₱48.45

$0.76 ₱46.38

5.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱25.44

$0.37 ₱22.17

13.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 ₱91.8

$1.36 ₱82.4

11.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$2.15 ₱130

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₱135

$1.91 ₱116

16.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ₱92.9

$1.28 ₱77.4

19.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.3

$0.94 ₱56.8

19.15%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱140

$2.10 ₱128

10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 ₱793

$7.81 ₱474

67.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.38 ₱327

$4.33 ₱263

24.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.76 ₱471

$7.66 ₱465

1.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.63 ₱220

$2.84 ₱173

27.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 ₱91.1

$1.59 ₱96.7

-5.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.42 ₱207

$2.71 ₱164

26.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱132

$1.61 ₱98.0

34.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 ₱154

$2.22 ₱135

13.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 ₱148

$2.62 ₱159

-6.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₱60.8

$1.10 ₱66.8

-9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.14

$0.72 ₱43.63

9.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱198

$2.79 ₱170

16.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.30 ₱383

$9.21 ₱559

-31.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₱69.7

$1.15 ₱69.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 ₱140

$2.06 ₱125

11.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.03

$0.28 ₱17.12

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.06 ₱914

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱50.5

$0.77 ₱46.60

7.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱13.85

$0.22 ₱13.28

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 ₱165

$2.10 ₱127

29.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱66.3

$1.13 ₱68.8

-3.54%

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

$30.5K ₱1.9M

$26.6K ₱1.6M

14.78%

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

$27.1K ₱1.6M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

30.30%

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

$97.2 ₱5,900

$115 ₱6,962

-15.25%

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

$34.37 ₱2,087

$32.75 ₱1,988

4.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.15 ₱1,831

$27.42 ₱1,665

9.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.14 ₱2,012

$33.78 ₱2,051

-1.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.25 ₱501

$4.48 ₱272

84.15%

Cinema Ticket

$5.84 ₱355

$5.84 ₱354

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

$228 ₱13.8K

$150 ₱9,111

51.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,923 ₱238.2K

$4,283 ₱260.1K

-8.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 ₱3,140

$45.80 ₱2,781

12.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.99 ₱1,396

$26.49 ₱1,609

-13.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.2 ₱4,567

$74.1 ₱4,498

1.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.4 ₱3,422

$52.5 ₱3,187

7.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$511 ₱31.0K

$263 ₱16.0K

94.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 ₱12.7K

$177 ₱10.8K

18.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$787 ₱47.8K

$583 ₱35.4K

34.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 ₱23.7K

$395 ₱24.0K

-1.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,948 ₱179.0K

$2,414 ₱146.6K

22.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,906 ₱115.7K

$987 ₱59.9K

93.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$378 ₱23.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

19.94%

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

Last update for Cebu: June 6, 2026

Last update for Magallanes, Cavite: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $511 in Cebu and $263 in Magallanes, Cavite. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $18.00 in Magallanes, Cavite for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $208 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,300 in Cebu and $1,152 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: $511 in Cebu versus $263 in Magallanes, Cavite. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $867 per month in Cebu versus $768 in Magallanes, Cavite – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $768 in Magallanes, Cavite versus $867 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 13% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.