Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Ormoc Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Ormoc

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $854 in Cebu versus $788 in Ormoc.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,318 in Cebu versus $1,202 in Ormoc.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,782 in Cebu versus $1,615 in Ormoc.

Living in Cebu is roughly 8% more expensive than Ormoc, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 36% lower, Ormoc 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.40 ₱271

$3.48 ₱215

26.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.98 ₱1,479

$17.46 ₱1,077

37.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$4.28 ₱264

6.07%

Cappuccino

$2.53 ₱156

$2.40 ₱148

5.42%

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

$0.85 ₱52.6

$0.81 ₱50.1

4.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.85

$0.40 ₱24.53

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱93.6

$1.34 ₱82.9

13.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.11 ₱130

3.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 ₱142

$1.85 ₱114

24.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ₱96.8

$1.22 ₱75.4

28.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ₱71.2

$0.95 ₱58.4

21.05%

Eggs

$2.36 ₱146

$2.00 ₱123

18.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 ₱804

$7.88 ₱486

65.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.10 ₱314

$4.14 ₱255

23.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 ₱490

$7.75 ₱478

2.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 ₱215

$2.87 ₱177

21.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₱92.9

$1.60 ₱98.8

-5.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$2.67 ₱165

23.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.61 ₱99.6

36.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.30 ₱142

13.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.60 ₱160

-5.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.9

$1.10 ₱68.1

-16.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.4

$0.72 ₱44.16

15.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.27 ₱202

$2.82 ₱174

15.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 ₱416

$8.51 ₱525

-20.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.7

$1.16 ₱71.5

4.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱140

$2.05 ₱126

10.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.37

$0.18 ₱11.39

55.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.14 ₱934

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.6

$0.77 ₱47.53

12.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.50

$0.24 ₱14.81

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.07 ₱128

26.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱70.3

$1.15 ₱70.8

-0.87%

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

$29.6K ₱1.8M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

12.81%

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

$27.0K ₱1.7M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

34.07%

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

$95.2 ₱5,870

$112 ₱6,926

-15.25%

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

$33.67 ₱2,077

$33.43 ₱2,062

0.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.79 ₱1,837

$27.84 ₱1,717

7.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.90 ₱2,029

$33.88 ₱2,090

-2.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.16 ₱503

$4.45 ₱274

83.37%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱357

$6.03 ₱372

-3.98%

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

$232 ₱14.3K

$150 ₱9,235

55.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,860 ₱238.1K

$4,340 ₱267.7K

-11.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 ₱3,214

$46.66 ₱2,878

11.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.82 ₱1,407

$27.02 ₱1,667

-15.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ₱4,736

$76.3 ₱4,707

0.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.3 ₱3,351

$54.0 ₱3,330

0.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 ₱30.6K

$262 ₱16.1K

89.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 ₱13.2K

$178 ₱11.0K

19.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ₱49.2K

$215 ₱13.3K

270.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₱23.8K

$399 ₱24.6K

-3.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,968 ₱183.1K

$2,430 ₱149.9K

22.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,963 ₱121.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$383 ₱23.6K

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Ormoc: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $497 in Cebu and $262 in Ormoc. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $17.00 in Ormoc for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $205 per month, with Ormoc 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 Ormoc: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ormoc is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,281 in Cebu and $1,183 in Ormoc to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $497 in Cebu versus $262 in Ormoc. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $854 per month in Cebu versus $788 in Ormoc – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $788 in Ormoc versus $854 in Cebu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ormoc but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Ormoc the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Ormoc 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 Ormoc 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 Ormoc gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.