Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Mambajao Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Mambajao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $936 in Cebu versus $500 in Mambajao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,427 in Cebu versus $801 in Mambajao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,918 in Cebu versus $1,101 in Mambajao.

Living in Cebu is roughly 87% more expensive than in Mambajao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Mambajao 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.09 ₱193

$1.38 ₱86.5

123.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.80 ₱1,488

$15.73 ₱984

51.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.10 ₱257

$3.43 ₱214

19.53%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$2.24 ₱140

16.07%

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

$1.55 ₱96.9

$0.41 ₱25.73

278.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.46

$0.29 ₱18.36

86.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 ₱108

$0.99 ₱61.6

74.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱137

$1.13 ₱70.8

93.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱120

$0.87 ₱54.2

120.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 ₱87.1

$0.61 ₱38.32

127.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ₱60.8

$0.70 ₱43.85

38.57%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱125

$1.21 ₱76.0

65.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.93 ₱621

$6.03 ₱377

64.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.38 ₱274

$4.08 ₱255

7.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.41 ₱463

$5.61 ₱351

32.09%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 ₱217

$2.38 ₱149

45.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₱91.7

$1.65 ₱103

-10.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱151

$2.55 ₱160

-5.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₱96.5

$1.12 ₱70.1

37.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.36 ₱148

$1.29 ₱80.8

82.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ₱119

$1.78 ₱111

7.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₱77.3

$0.74 ₱46.34

67.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₱41.42

$0.53 ₱33.15

24.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 ₱188

$2.76 ₱172

8.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.08 ₱380

$8.12 ₱508

-25.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₱81.8

$0.98 ₱61.4

33.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₱108

$1.19 ₱74.4

45.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.65

$0.17 ₱10.84

47.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.73 ₱796

$12.53 ₱784

1.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₱46.78

$0.72 ₱45.18

4.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.41

$0.22 ₱13.56

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 ₱288

$2.12 ₱133

116.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₱83.7

$1.27 ₱79.6

5.51%

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

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$20.0K ₱1.2M

9.00%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$22.1K ₱1.4M

-11.95%

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

$121 ₱7,564

$63.2 ₱3,952

91.39%

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

$14.86 ₱929

$14.83 ₱927

0.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.84 ₱1,741

$19.82 ₱1,239

40.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.06 ₱2,005

$34.74 ₱2,173

-7.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.43 ₱402

$5.23 ₱327

22.94%

Cinema Ticket

$5.64 ₱352

$5.45 ₱340

3.49%

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

$273 ₱17.1K

$114 ₱7,152

139.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,017 ₱501.3K

$8,918 ₱557.6K

-10.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.77 ₱3,050

$30.41 ₱1,902

60.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 ₱1,594

$18.56 ₱1,160

37.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 ₱4,884

$74.0 ₱4,624

5.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.8 ₱3,616

$61.9 ₱3,871

-6.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱31.3K

$99.9 ₱6,243

400.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 ₱18.7K

$55.9 ₱3,492

436.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 ₱68.1K

$238 ₱14.9K

357.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₱39.5K

$160 ₱10.0K

294.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,888 ₱180.6K

$2,782 ₱174.0K

3.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,877 ₱117.3K

$1,092 ₱68.3K

71.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.7K

$151 ₱9,469

128.79%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Mambajao: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $99.9 in Mambajao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 129% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $16.00 in Mambajao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $156 per month, with Mambajao 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 Mambajao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mambajao is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 87% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 129% higher in Cebu, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $99.9 in Mambajao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $936 per month in Cebu versus $500 in Mambajao – a 87% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mambajao runs roughly 2% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $500 in Mambajao versus $936 in Cebu, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mambajao but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Mambajao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Mambajao 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 Mambajao 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 Mambajao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.