Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Ozamiz Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Ozamiz

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $931 in Cebu versus $712 in Ozamiz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,439 in Cebu versus $1,080 in Ozamiz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,947 in Cebu versus $1,448 in Ozamiz.

Living in Cebu is roughly 31% more expensive than in Ozamiz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Ozamiz 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.05 ₱191

$3.63 ₱228

-15.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.09 ₱1,448

$16.45 ₱1,031

40.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.03 ₱253

$2.64 ₱166

52.65%

Cappuccino

$2.58 ₱162

$2.22 ₱139

16.22%

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

$1.53 ₱95.9

$0.57 ₱35.64

168.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.31

$0.28 ₱17.43

89.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 ₱107

$1.03 ₱64.8

66.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱143

$1.99 ₱125

14.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ₱118

$1.53 ₱95.7

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 ₱84.0

$0.77 ₱48.21

74.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₱64.1

$0.79 ₱49.31

29.11%

Eggs

$1.96 ₱123

$2.10 ₱132

-6.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.93 ₱623

$5.50 ₱345

80.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 ₱287

$3.50 ₱220

30.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.45 ₱467

$7.50 ₱471

-0.67%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 ₱217

$2.38 ₱149

45.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱91.2

$0.77 ₱48.00

88.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱150

$2.13 ₱134

12.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ₱97.4

$1.09 ₱68.7

42.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$2.19 ₱137

5.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 ₱118

$2.68 ₱168

-29.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 ₱77.1

$0.74 ₱46.57

66.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₱39.10

$0.56 ₱35.19

10.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.82 ₱177

6.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.13 ₱385

$8.86 ₱556

-30.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₱81.1

$0.93 ₱58.6

38.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₱107

$1.90 ₱119

-10.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.71

$0.29 ₱18.35

-13.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.35 ₱775

$10.85 ₱680

13.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.79 ₱49.72

$0.87 ₱54.9

-9.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 ₱12.52

$0.21 ₱13.43

-4.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 ₱276

$1.69 ₱106

160.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ₱82.1

$0.99 ₱62.2

32.32%

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

$21.6K ₱1.4M

$22.8K ₱1.4M

-5.30%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$17.0K ₱1.1M

13.36%

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

$122 ₱7,681

$131 ₱8,230

-6.68%

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

$15.08 ₱946

$13.70 ₱859

10.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.10 ₱1,762

$24.82 ₱1,557

13.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.67 ₱1,987

$27.33 ₱1,714

15.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.65 ₱417

$4.69 ₱294

41.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.40 ₱339

$5.59 ₱350

-3.40%

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

$278 ₱17.5K

$138 ₱8,626

102.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,849 ₱492.3K

$8,480 ₱531.9K

-7.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.20 ₱3,023

$34.63 ₱2,172

39.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.32 ₱1,588

$20.05 ₱1,257

26.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,782

$61.3 ₱3,842

24.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.1 ₱3,643

$54.1 ₱3,392

7.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.7K

$266 ₱16.7K

83.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₱19.3K

$163 ₱10.2K

88.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,075 ₱67.4K

$490 ₱30.8K

119.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.9K

$343 ₱21.5K

85.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,871 ₱180.0K

$2,271 ₱142.4K

26.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,912 ₱119.9K

$918 ₱57.6K

108.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$335 ₱21.0K

$192 ₱12.0K

74.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

6.75

6.67%

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

Last update for Cebu: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ozamiz: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $489 in Cebu and $266 in Ozamiz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 74% 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: $23.00 in Cebu vs $16.00 in Ozamiz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $169 per month, with Ozamiz 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 Ozamiz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ozamiz is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 74% 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: $489 in Cebu versus $266 in Ozamiz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $931 per month in Cebu versus $712 in Ozamiz – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ozamiz runs roughly 14% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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

For families, Ozamiz 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 Ozamiz 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 Ozamiz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.