Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Naga Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Naga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Cebu versus $770 in Naga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,352 in Cebu versus $1,121 in Naga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Cebu versus $1,473 in Naga.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 35% lower, Naga 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.52 ₱272

$3.50 ₱211

29.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.52 ₱1,477

$17.95 ₱1,081

36.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱274

$3.35 ₱202

35.82%

Cappuccino

$2.55 ₱154

$2.39 ₱144

6.69%

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

$0.86 ₱51.8

$0.84 ₱50.3

2.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱25.33

$0.40 ₱23.95

5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 ₱91.2

$1.31 ₱78.6

15.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱129

$2.16 ₱130

-0.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 ₱140

$1.82 ₱110

28.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 ₱91.3

$1.21 ₱72.9

25.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.3

$0.91 ₱54.9

23.08%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱139

$1.70 ₱102

35.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.70 ₱765

$7.88 ₱475

61.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱313

$4.18 ₱252

24.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 ₱474

$7.74 ₱466

1.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 ₱210

$2.88 ₱174

21.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱87.4

$1.52 ₱91.8

-4.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.27 ₱197

$2.57 ₱155

27.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.20 ₱132

$1.53 ₱92.3

43.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 ₱155

$2.23 ₱135

15.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 ₱156

$2.62 ₱158

-1.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ₱56.2

$1.11 ₱66.9

-16.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱47.47

$0.71 ₱42.77

11.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱191

$2.53 ₱152

25.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.44 ₱388

$3.88 ₱234

65.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱72.1

$1.16 ₱69.6

3.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 ₱142

$1.98 ₱119

18.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.04

$0.28 ₱16.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.34 ₱924

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱52.6

$0.78 ₱47.13

11.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.16

$0.22 ₱13.22

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 ₱162

$2.11 ₱127

27.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱66.1

$1.14 ₱68.6

-3.51%

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

$30.2K ₱1.8M

$27.0K ₱1.6M

11.96%

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

$26.9K ₱1.6M

$20.7K ₱1.2M

29.85%

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

$98.3 ₱5,922

$113 ₱6,818

-13.13%

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

$34.89 ₱2,101

$33.31 ₱2,006

4.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.76 ₱1,793

$26.46 ₱1,593

12.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.66 ₱1,967

$33.33 ₱2,008

-2.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.43 ₱507

Cinema Ticket

$6.01 ₱362

$6.10 ₱367

-1.48%

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

$235 ₱14.2K

$151 ₱9,120

55.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,936 ₱237.0K

$4,387 ₱264.2K

-10.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 ₱3,109

$45.65 ₱2,749

13.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.19 ₱1,397

$26.07 ₱1,570

-11.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.3 ₱4,477

$75.7 ₱4,558

-1.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.7 ₱3,355

$52.4 ₱3,155

6.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 ₱30.0K

$268 ₱16.2K

85.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 ₱12.7K

$175 ₱10.5K

20.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$783 ₱47.2K

$332 ₱20.0K

135.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 ₱23.3K

$264 ₱15.9K

46.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,095 ₱186.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,981 ₱119.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$373 ₱22.5K

$152 ₱9,160

145.34%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Naga: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $498 in Cebu and $268 in Naga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 145% 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: $25.00 in Cebu vs $18.00 in Naga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $192 per month, with Naga 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 Naga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Naga 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.

Cebu pays 145% more on average, 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: $498 in Cebu versus $268 in Naga. 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 $869 per month in Cebu versus $770 in Naga – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $770 in Naga versus $869 in Cebu, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Naga but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Naga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Naga 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 Naga 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 Naga 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.