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: $854 in Cebu versus $759 in Ozamiz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,318 in Cebu versus $1,177 in Ozamiz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,782 in Cebu versus $1,595 in Ozamiz.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 36% lower, Ozamiz 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.40 ₱271

$3.53 ₱218

24.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.98 ₱1,479

$17.70 ₱1,092

35.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.24 ₱200

40.12%

Cappuccino

$2.53 ₱156

$2.35 ₱145

7.66%

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

$0.85 ₱52.6

$0.83 ₱51.3

2.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.85

$0.36 ₱22.34

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱93.6

$1.36 ₱83.8

11.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.16 ₱133

1.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 ₱142

$1.73 ₱107

32.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ₱96.8

$0.86 ₱53.3

82.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ₱71.2

$0.85 ₱52.3

35.29%

Eggs

$2.36 ₱146

$1.63 ₱101

44.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 ₱804

$8.20 ₱506

58.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.10 ₱314

$4.32 ₱266

18.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 ₱490

$7.76 ₱479

2.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 ₱215

$2.86 ₱176

22.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₱92.9

$1.52 ₱93.5

-0.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$2.71 ₱167

21.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.59 ₱98.2

37.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.29 ₱141

13.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.59 ₱159

-5.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.9

$1.11 ₱68.6

-17.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.4

$0.72 ₱44.71

15.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.27 ₱202

$2.82 ₱174

15.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 ₱416

$7.71 ₱476

-12.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.7

$1.17 ₱72.0

3.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱140

$1.97 ₱121

15.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.37

$0.28 ₱17.42

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.14 ₱934

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.6

$0.82 ₱50.7

6.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.50

$0.24 ₱14.82

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.17 ₱134

20.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱70.3

$1.10 ₱67.9

3.64%

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

$29.6K ₱1.8M

$26.3K ₱1.6M

12.66%

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

$27.0K ₱1.7M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

31.22%

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

$95.2 ₱5,870

$114 ₱7,006

-16.21%

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

$33.67 ₱2,077

$32.63 ₱2,013

3.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.79 ₱1,837

$27.60 ₱1,702

7.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.90 ₱2,029

$34.50 ₱2,128

-4.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.16 ₱503

$4.50 ₱278

81.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱357

$5.82 ₱359

-0.52%

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

$232 ₱14.3K

$151 ₱9,295

54.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,860 ₱238.1K

$4,383 ₱270.3K

-11.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 ₱3,214

$46.07 ₱2,842

13.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.82 ₱1,407

$26.94 ₱1,661

-15.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ₱4,736

$76.6 ₱4,727

0.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.3 ₱3,351

$53.9 ₱3,322

0.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 ₱30.6K

$266 ₱16.4K

86.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 ₱13.2K

$174 ₱10.7K

22.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ₱49.2K

$590 ₱36.4K

35.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₱23.8K

$392 ₱24.2K

-1.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,968 ₱183.1K

$2,533 ₱156.2K

17.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,963 ₱121.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$383 ₱23.6K

$197 ₱12.2K

94.29%

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 Ozamiz: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $497 in Cebu and $266 in Ozamiz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 94% 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 Ozamiz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $198 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Cebu pays 94% more on average, 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: $497 in Cebu versus $266 in Ozamiz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% 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 $759 in Ozamiz – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $759 in Ozamiz versus $854 in Cebu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ozamiz but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Ozamiz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 13% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.