Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and the Maldives

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $943 a month against $1,466 in the Maldives, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cebu, Philippines
Maldives
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$943
/mo nomad
🇲🇻 Maldives
$1,466
/mo nomad
🙂 Solo nomad: Cebu is 25.7% cheaper than the Maldives without rent, and 35.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Cebu is 29.4% cheaper than the Maldives without rent, and 41.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Maldives
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.88 ₱244
$6.56 MVR 101
-40.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.22 ₱1,462
$50.9 MVR 784
-54.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.90 ₱246
$9.80 MVR 151
-60.20%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.81 MVR 74.2
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$9.45 MVR 146
-
Cappuccino
$2.56 ₱161
$3.32 MVR 51.1
-22.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ₱101
$1.57 MVR 24.24
1.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₱32.03
$0.30 MVR 4.62
70.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.76 ₱111
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 ₱136
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Maldives
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.99 ₱125
$1.82 MVR 28.06
9.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 ₱86.3
$1.60 MVR 24.62
-14.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ₱59.9
$1.27 MVR 19.64
-25.20%
Eggs
$2.02 ₱127
$1.81 MVR 27.98
11.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.63 ₱606
$6.35 MVR 97.9
51.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 ₱274
$6.48 MVR 99.9
-32.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.70 ₱485
$10.11 MVR 156
-23.84%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱207
$3.98 MVR 61.3
-17.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 ₱79.7
$2.88 MVR 44.39
-55.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 ₱148
$3.83 MVR 59.1
-38.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.51 ₱95.4
$2.50 MVR 38.62
-39.60%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 ₱141
$1.97 MVR 30.40
13.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.93 ₱122
$1.88 MVR 28.98
2.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₱74.4
$1.99 MVR 30.75
-40.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₱40.93
$0.65 MVR 9.95
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$11.26 MVR 174
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.47 MVR 38.02
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.62 MVR 71.3
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.89 ₱182
$15.08 MVR 233
-80.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.35 ₱400
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 ₱80.1
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ₱103
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Maldives
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 ₱14.42
$0.63 MVR 9.66
-63.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.24 ₱771
$28.53 MVR 440
-57.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.82 ₱51.5
$1.99 MVR 30.63
-58.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.20 ₱12.56
$1.91 MVR 29.46
-89.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.32 ₱272
$10.20 MVR 157
-57.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 ₱86.7
$1.03 MVR 15.87
33.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$23.0K MVR 354.7K
-7.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K ₱1.2M
$26.3K MVR 405.4K
-26.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Maldives
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ₱7,816
$132 MVR 2,029
-5.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.93 ₱1,003
$28.97 MVR 447
-45.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 ₱1,768
$68.9 MVR 1,063
-59.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Maldives
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.41 ₱2,104
$62.3 MVR 961
-46.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.40 ₱403
$21.33 MVR 329
-70.00%
Cinema Ticket
$5.85 ₱368
$9.21 MVR 142
-36.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Maldives
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$271 ₱17.0K
$176 MVR 2,716
53.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,060 ₱507.5K
$4,713 MVR 72.7K
71.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Maldives
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.31 ₱3,042
$37.35 MVR 576
29.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.56 ₱1,546
$49.01 MVR 756
-49.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.1 ₱4,856
$85.3 MVR 1,315
-9.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.5 ₱3,558
$51.7 MVR 797
9.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Maldives
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$495 ₱31.2K
$933 MVR 14.4K
-46.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$322 ₱20.3K
$665 MVR 10.2K
-51.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$990 ₱62.4K
$1,898 MVR 29.3K
-47.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$628 ₱39.6K
$1,488 MVR 22.9K
-57.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,459 ₱280.7K
$2,602 MVR 40.1K
71.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,030 ₱190.8K
$774 MVR 11.9K
291.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Maldives
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$343 ₱21.6K
$756 MVR 11.7K
-54.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
14
-48.57%

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

Last update for Cebu: November 2, 2026

Last update for the Maldives: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$322
Maldives
$665 107% $343
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Maldives
$219 6.4% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$168
Maldives
$229 36.5% $61
Eating Out
Cebu
$95
Maldives
$129 36% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$93
Maldives
$101 8.2% $7.6
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$45
Maldives
$81 79% $36
Getting Around
Cebu
$15
Maldives
$43 184% $28
Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇲🇻 Maldives
🕒 Local time
10:30 10:30 AM
07:30 7:30 AM
3 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
436,330
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MVR, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 62.97 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.68 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Maldivian Rufiyaa exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 15.42 MVR (100 MVR = 6.49 USD). 1 EUR = 17.31 MVR (100 MVR = 5.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Maldives 5,590 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Maldives

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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