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: $879 in Cebu versus $779 in Naga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,347 in Cebu versus $1,145 in Naga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,815 in Cebu versus $1,510 in Naga.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 34% lower, Naga 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.34 ₱266

$3.45 ₱211

25.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.95 ₱1,466

$18.03 ₱1,104

32.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.48 ₱274

$3.29 ₱201

36.17%

Cappuccino

$2.58 ₱158

$2.46 ₱151

4.88%

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

$0.78 ₱47.91

$0.83 ₱50.8

-6.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.71

$0.37 ₱22.36

21.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱93.0

$1.36 ₱83.3

11.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$2.17 ₱133

-0.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 ₱142

$1.90 ₱116

21.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ₱93.4

$1.27 ₱77.6

20.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 ₱71.9

$0.86 ₱52.8

36.05%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$1.72 ₱105

36.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 ₱776

$8.23 ₱504

54.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 ₱322

$4.20 ₱257

25.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 ₱482

$7.50 ₱459

5.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱213

$2.90 ₱177

20.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ₱89.5

$1.57 ₱96.3

-7.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.32 ₱203

$2.70 ₱165

22.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 ₱139

$1.55 ₱95.1

46.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 ₱163

$2.32 ₱142

14.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₱150

$2.54 ₱155

-3.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ₱56.8

$1.06 ₱64.9

-12.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.49

$0.76 ₱46.72

3.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 ₱191

$2.60 ₱159

20.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.37 ₱390

$3.85 ₱236

65.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₱73.0

$1.21 ₱74.0

-1.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱138

$1.97 ₱121

14.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.28 ₱17.33

-7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.85 ₱909

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.1

$0.81 ₱49.72

7.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.04

$0.22 ₱13.43

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 ₱165

$2.08 ₱128

29.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱67.8

$1.11 ₱67.7

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

$30.0K ₱1.8M

$26.9K ₱1.6M

11.67%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

32.60%

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

$96.9 ₱5,928

$113 ₱6,916

-14.28%

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

$34.35 ₱2,103

$32.32 ₱1,979

6.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 ₱1,815

$26.39 ₱1,616

12.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.03 ₱2,022

$34.42 ₱2,107

-4.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.50 ₱520

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ₱356

$5.76 ₱353

1.04%

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

$227 ₱13.9K

$153 ₱9,389

48.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,968 ₱242.9K

$4,369 ₱267.4K

-9.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 ₱3,263

$45.11 ₱2,761

18.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.14 ₱1,417

$27.01 ₱1,654

-14.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 ₱4,570

$75.4 ₱4,616

-0.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 ₱3,336

$53.7 ₱3,289

1.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₱31.5K

$267 ₱16.3K

93.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 ₱13.3K

$173 ₱10.6K

25.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$785 ₱48.1K

$323 ₱19.8K

142.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 ₱23.8K

$266 ₱16.3K

45.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,908 ₱178.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,911 ₱117.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.2K

$147 ₱9,005

134.91%

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 Naga: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Cebu and $267 in Naga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 135% 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 $18.00 in Naga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $196 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.

Average pay runs 135% 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: $515 in Cebu versus $267 in Naga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% 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 $779 in Naga – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $779 in Naga versus $879 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.