Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Malaybalay Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Malaybalay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $854 in Cebu versus $771 in Malaybalay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,318 in Cebu versus $1,185 in Malaybalay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,782 in Cebu versus $1,599 in Malaybalay.

Living in Cebu is roughly 11% more expensive than Malaybalay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 36% lower, Malaybalay 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.40 ₱271

$4.38 ₱270

0.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.98 ₱1,479

$16.06 ₱991

49.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.98 ₱245

14.07%

Cappuccino

$2.53 ₱156

$2.07 ₱128

22.22%

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

$0.85 ₱52.6

$0.55 ₱33.79

54.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.85

$0.37 ₱22.59

21.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱93.6

$1.04 ₱64.3

46.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.80 ₱111

21.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 ₱142

$1.69 ₱104

36.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ₱96.8

$1.21 ₱74.6

29.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ₱71.2

$0.99 ₱61.2

16.16%

Eggs

$2.36 ₱146

$2.00 ₱124

18.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 ₱804

$5.92 ₱365

120.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.10 ₱314

$4.58 ₱283

11.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 ₱490

$7.38 ₱455

7.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 ₱215

$2.95 ₱182

18.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₱92.9

$1.13 ₱69.6

33.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$2.38 ₱147

38.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.36 ₱84.0

61.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.28 ₱141

14.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₱151

$3.25 ₱200

-24.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.9

$1.33 ₱81.9

-30.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.4

$0.60 ₱36.93

38.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.27 ₱202

$2.62 ₱162

24.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 ₱416

$8.37 ₱517

-19.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.7

$1.35 ₱83.3

-10.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱140

$1.57 ₱96.9

44.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.37

$0.26 ₱15.93

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.14 ₱934

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.6

$0.88 ₱54.2

-1.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.50

$0.23 ₱14.19

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.15 ₱133

21.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱70.3

$1.09 ₱67.2

4.59%

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

$29.6K ₱1.8M

$22.1K ₱1.4M

33.63%

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

$27.0K ₱1.7M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

29.72%

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

$95.2 ₱5,870

$105 ₱6,462

-9.15%

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

$33.67 ₱2,077

$33.95 ₱2,094

-0.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.79 ₱1,837

$36.58 ₱2,256

-18.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.90 ₱2,029

$34.51 ₱2,129

-4.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.16 ₱503

$4.47 ₱276

82.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱357

$4.40 ₱271

31.59%

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

$232 ₱14.3K

$119 ₱7,347

94.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,860 ₱238.1K

$4,368 ₱269.4K

-11.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 ₱3,214

$45.94 ₱2,834

13.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.82 ₱1,407

$30.59 ₱1,887

-25.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ₱4,736

$77.7 ₱4,793

-1.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.3 ₱3,351

$67.8 ₱4,183

-19.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 ₱30.6K

$264 ₱16.3K

88.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 ₱13.2K

$174 ₱10.8K

22.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ₱49.2K

$589 ₱36.3K

35.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₱23.8K

$391 ₱24.1K

-1.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,968 ₱183.1K

$2,027 ₱125.0K

46.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,963 ₱121.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$383 ₱23.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.56

-16.32%

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

Last update for Cebu: April 28, 2026

Last update for Malaybalay: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $497 in Cebu and $264 in Malaybalay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $16.00 in Malaybalay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $194 per month, with Malaybalay 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 Malaybalay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Malaybalay is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,281 in Cebu and $1,156 in Malaybalay 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: $497 in Cebu versus $264 in Malaybalay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $854 per month in Cebu versus $771 in Malaybalay – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $771 in Malaybalay versus $854 in Cebu, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Malaybalay but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Malaybalay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Malaybalay 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 Malaybalay 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 Malaybalay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.