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: $864 in Cebu versus $781 in Negros.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,335 in Cebu versus $1,233 in Negros.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,807 in Cebu versus $1,686 in Negros.

Living in Cebu is roughly 11% more expensive than in Negros, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.49 ₱277

$3.52 ₱217

27.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.83 ₱1,470

$13.17 ₱813

80.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 ₱270

$3.15 ₱194

39.05%

Cappuccino

$2.64 ₱163

$1.58 ₱97.8

67.09%

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

$0.81 ₱49.82

$0.31 ₱18.95

161.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱26.52

$0.42 ₱25.89

2.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱93.7

$1.34 ₱82.7

13.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱130

$2.19 ₱135

-4.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₱138

$2.29 ₱141

-2.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.53 ₱94.3

-2.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.5

$1.11 ₱68.3

Eggs

$2.29 ₱141

$2.35 ₱145

-2.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.04 ₱805

$13.05 ₱805

-0.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$5.18 ₱320

0.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.49 ₱462

$7.51 ₱464

-0.27%

Apples (1kg)

$3.52 ₱217

$3.50 ₱216

0.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱94.1

$1.52 ₱93.6

0.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.42 ₱211

$3.27 ₱202

4.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$2.20 ₱136

2.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.62 ₱162

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 ₱153

$2.54 ₱157

-2.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ₱61.1

$0.99 ₱61.2

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱47.98

$0.77 ₱47.63

1.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.25 ₱200

$3.13 ₱193

3.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.39 ₱394

$6.43 ₱397

-0.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.20 ₱73.9

-3.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 ₱137

$2.36 ₱145

-5.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.28

$0.28 ₱17.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.32 ₱945

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.87 ₱53.8

1.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.18

$0.23 ₱14.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.69 ₱166

-2.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱68.1

$1.13 ₱69.9

-2.65%

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

$29.8K ₱1.8M

$30.1K ₱1.9M

-1.04%

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

$27.3K ₱1.7M

$27.1K ₱1.7M

0.60%

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

$96.4 ₱5,947

$98.7 ₱6,092

-2.38%

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

$34.56 ₱2,132

$34.01 ₱2,098

1.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.67 ₱1,831

$29.27 ₱1,806

1.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.00 ₱2,036

$33.71 ₱2,080

-2.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.16 ₱504

$4.50 ₱277

81.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ₱356

$6.02 ₱371

-4.15%

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

$235 ₱14.5K

$227 ₱14.0K

3.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,852 ₱237.7K

$3,960 ₱244.4K

-2.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 ₱3,179

$45.88 ₱2,831

12.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.09 ₱1,425

$23.26 ₱1,435

-0.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.7 ₱4,668

$76.2 ₱4,702

-0.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.2 ₱3,406

$54.5 ₱3,365

1.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$502 ₱31.0K

$263 ₱16.2K

91.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$216 ₱13.3K

$175 ₱10.8K

22.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$807 ₱49.8K

$580 ₱35.8K

39.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 ₱23.6K

$388 ₱24.0K

-1.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,979 ₱183.8K

$2,611 ₱161.1K

14.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,932 ₱119.2K

$1,054 ₱65.0K

83.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$347 ₱21.4K

$246 ₱15.2K

40.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.29%

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

Last update for Cebu: July 22, 2026

Last update for Negros: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $502 in Cebu and $263 in Negros. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 41% 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 $13.00 in Negros. Groceries flip the comparison at $239 vs $240, 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 Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 41% 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: $502 in Cebu versus $263 in Negros. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Cebu pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $864 per month in Cebu versus $781 in Negros – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Negros gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 11% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.