Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Negros Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Negros

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $936 in Cebu versus $736 in Negros.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,427 in Cebu versus $1,134 in Negros.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,918 in Cebu versus $1,533 in Negros.

Living in Cebu is roughly 27% more expensive than in Negros, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Negros 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.09 ₱193

$3.06 ₱192

0.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.80 ₱1,490

$12.07 ₱756

97.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.10 ₱257

$2.85 ₱179

43.86%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$1.47 ₱92.2

76.87%

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

$1.55 ₱97.1

$0.30 ₱18.87

416.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.50

$0.39 ₱24.24

38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 ₱108

$1.17 ₱73.1

47.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱137

$1.97 ₱124

11.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱120

$2.00 ₱125

-4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 ₱87.2

$1.15 ₱72.1

20.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ₱60.9

$1.01 ₱63.3

-3.96%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱125

$1.99 ₱125

0.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.93 ₱622

$10.10 ₱633

-1.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.38 ₱274

$4.48 ₱281

-2.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.41 ₱464

$7.84 ₱491

-5.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 ₱217

$3.38 ₱211

2.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₱91.9

$1.46 ₱91.7

0.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱151

$2.34 ₱146

2.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₱96.6

$1.48 ₱93.0

4.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.36 ₱148

$2.43 ₱152

-2.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ₱120

$2.00 ₱125

-4.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₱77.4

$1.19 ₱74.3

4.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₱41.48

$0.63 ₱39.72

4.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 ₱188

$2.98 ₱187

0.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.08 ₱381

$6.24 ₱390

-2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₱81.9

$1.29 ₱81.0

1.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₱108

$1.67 ₱105

3.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.67

$0.25 ₱15.61

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.73 ₱797

$10.33 ₱647

23.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₱46.85

$0.80 ₱49.86

-6.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.23 ₱14.41

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 ₱288

$1.87 ₱117

145.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₱83.8

$1.28 ₱80.4

4.69%

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

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$21.6K ₱1.4M

0.74%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.5K ₱1.2M

-0.45%

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

$121 ₱7,575

$119 ₱7,478

1.29%

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

$14.86 ₱931

$15.03 ₱941

-1.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.84 ₱1,743

$27.75 ₱1,738

0.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.06 ₱2,008

$30.86 ₱1,932

3.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.43 ₱403

$5.12 ₱320

25.59%

Cinema Ticket

$5.64 ₱353

$5.52 ₱345

2.17%

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

$273 ₱17.1K

$134 ₱8,380

104.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,017 ₱502.0K

$7,920 ₱495.9K

1.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.77 ₱3,054

$31.78 ₱1,990

53.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 ₱1,596

$19.40 ₱1,215

31.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 ₱4,890

$76.4 ₱4,784

2.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.8 ₱3,622

$59.3 ₱3,713

-2.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱31.3K

$291 ₱18.2K

72.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 ₱18.8K

$180 ₱11.3K

66.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 ₱68.2K

$506 ₱31.7K

115.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₱39.6K

$394 ₱24.7K

60.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,888 ₱180.9K

$2,489 ₱155.9K

16.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,877 ₱117.5K

$1,062 ₱66.5K

76.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.7K

$239 ₱15.0K

44.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

2.86%

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

Last update for Cebu: August 30, 2026

Last update for Negros: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $291 in Negros. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 45% 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 $12.00 in Negros. Groceries flip the comparison at $208 vs $208, with Cebu cheaper for home cooking.

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 Negros: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Negros is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 45% 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 $291 in Negros. 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 $736 in Negros – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Negros runs roughly 23% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $736 in Negros versus $936 in Cebu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Negros but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Negros the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Negros 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 Negros 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 Negros gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.