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: $879 in Cebu versus $770 in Magallanes, Cavite.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,347 in Cebu versus $1,206 in Magallanes, Cavite.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,815 in Cebu versus $1,642 in Magallanes, Cavite.

Living in Cebu is roughly 14% more expensive than in Magallanes, Cavite, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 34% lower, Magallanes, Cavite 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.34 ₱266

$3.57 ₱219

21.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.95 ₱1,471

$17.76 ₱1,091

34.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.48 ₱275

$3.24 ₱199

38.27%

Cappuccino

$2.58 ₱158

$2.34 ₱144

10.26%

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

$0.78 ₱48.05

$0.78 ₱47.94

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.79

$0.37 ₱22.59

21.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱93.3

$1.34 ₱82.4

13.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱132

$2.19 ₱134

-1.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 ₱142

$1.85 ₱114

24.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ₱93.6

$1.22 ₱74.7

25.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.1

$0.99 ₱60.6

18.18%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱145

$2.00 ₱123

17.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 ₱778

$8.04 ₱494

57.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 ₱323

$4.30 ₱264

22.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 ₱484

$7.55 ₱463

4.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱214

$2.84 ₱174

22.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ₱89.8

$1.60 ₱98.0

-8.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.32 ₱204

$2.58 ₱158

28.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 ₱140

$1.62 ₱99.7

40.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 ₱163

$2.19 ₱135

21.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.53 ₱156

-3.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ₱56.9

$1.11 ₱68.4

-16.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.64

$0.73 ₱44.72

8.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 ₱192

$2.88 ₱177

8.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.37 ₱391

$8.78 ₱539

-27.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₱73.2

$1.21 ₱74.1

-1.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱138

$2.06 ₱126

9.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.96

$0.28 ₱17.26

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.85 ₱912

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.3

$0.82 ₱50.3

6.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.09

$0.24 ₱14.78

-4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 ₱166

$2.18 ₱134

23.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.0

$1.10 ₱67.6

0.91%

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

$30.0K ₱1.8M

$26.9K ₱1.7M

11.59%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

29.60%

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

$96.9 ₱5,947

$110 ₱6,775

-12.23%

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

$34.35 ₱2,109

$32.23 ₱1,979

6.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 ₱1,820

$26.95 ₱1,655

10.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.03 ₱2,028

$34.59 ₱2,124

-4.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.50 ₱522

$4.40 ₱270

93.18%

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ₱358

$5.83 ₱358

-0.17%

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

$227 ₱13.9K

$155 ₱9,493

46.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,968 ₱243.7K

$4,272 ₱262.3K

-7.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 ₱3,273

$46.45 ₱2,852

14.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.14 ₱1,421

$26.97 ₱1,656

-14.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 ₱4,584

$76.2 ₱4,678

-2.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 ₱3,346

$54.2 ₱3,330

0.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₱31.6K

$261 ₱16.0K

97.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 ₱13.3K

$178 ₱10.9K

21.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$785 ₱48.2K

$585 ₱35.9K

34.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 ₱23.8K

$401 ₱24.6K

-3.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,908 ₱178.5K

$2,440 ₱149.8K

19.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,911 ₱117.3K

$1,013 ₱62.2K

88.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.2K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Magallanes, Cavite: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Cebu and $261 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 $206 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 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,318 in Cebu and $1,155 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: $515 in Cebu versus $261 in Magallanes, Cavite. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $879 per month in Cebu versus $770 in Magallanes, Cavite – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $770 in Magallanes, Cavite versus $879 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 14% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.