Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Polomolok Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Polomolok

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $931 in Cebu versus $625 in Polomolok.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,439 in Cebu versus $962 in Polomolok.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,947 in Cebu versus $1,300 in Polomolok.

Living in Cebu is roughly 49% more expensive than in Polomolok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Polomolok 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.05 ₱191

$1.61 ₱101

89.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.09 ₱1,451

$16.48 ₱1,036

40.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.03 ₱253

$2.06 ₱129

95.63%

Cappuccino

$2.58 ₱162

$2.17 ₱136

18.89%

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

$1.53 ₱96.1

$0.39 ₱24.33

292.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.37

$0.63 ₱39.58

-15.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 ₱108

$1.07 ₱67.2

59.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱143

$1.82 ₱114

24.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ₱118

$1.68 ₱105

11.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 ₱84.2

$0.84 ₱53.0

59.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₱64.3

$0.67 ₱41.99

52.24%

Eggs

$1.96 ₱123

$1.94 ₱122

1.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.93 ₱624

$6.71 ₱421

47.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 ₱288

$2.65 ₱166

72.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.45 ₱468

$5.63 ₱354

32.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 ₱217

$2.52 ₱158

37.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱91.4

$0.54 ₱34.15

168.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱150

$2.23 ₱140

7.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ₱97.6

$0.81 ₱50.9

91.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$1.22 ₱76.4

89.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 ₱118

$2.83 ₱178

-33.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 ₱77.2

$0.81 ₱50.7

51.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₱39.16

$0.72 ₱45.35

-13.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.40 ₱151

25.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.13 ₱385

$7.24 ₱455

-15.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₱81.3

$0.93 ₱58.7

38.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₱107

$1.55 ₱97.5

9.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.74

$0.28 ₱17.51

-10.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.35 ₱776

$10.97 ₱689

12.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.79 ₱49.81

$0.82 ₱51.6

-3.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 ₱12.54

$0.23 ₱14.37

-13.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 ₱276

$1.89 ₱119

132.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ₱82.2

$0.88 ₱55.2

48.86%

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

$21.6K ₱1.4M

$15.9K ₱999.7K

35.77%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$17.6K ₱1.1M

10.04%

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

$122 ₱7,694

$51.0 ₱3,204

140.12%

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

$15.08 ₱948

$18.89 ₱1,187

-20.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.10 ₱1,765

$26.41 ₱1,659

6.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.67 ₱1,990

$30.91 ₱1,942

2.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.65 ₱418

$4.73 ₱297

40.59%

Cinema Ticket

$5.40 ₱339

$4.07 ₱256

32.68%

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

$278 ₱17.5K

$107 ₱6,696

161.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,849 ₱493.1K

$1,366 ₱85.8K

474.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.20 ₱3,028

$31.68 ₱1,991

52.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.32 ₱1,591

$19.35 ₱1,216

30.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,790

$62.8 ₱3,945

21.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.1 ₱3,649

$62.3 ₱3,916

-6.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.7K

$271 ₱17.0K

80.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₱19.3K

$169 ₱10.6K

81.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,075 ₱67.5K

$506 ₱31.8K

112.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.9K

$342 ₱21.5K

85.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,871 ₱180.4K

$2,622 ₱164.7K

9.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,912 ₱120.1K

$1,037 ₱65.2K

84.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$335 ₱21.0K

$241 ₱15.2K

38.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

20.00%

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

Last update for Cebu: September 13, 2026

Last update for Polomolok: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $489 in Cebu and $271 in Polomolok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 39% 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 Polomolok for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $158 per month, with Polomolok 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 Polomolok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Polomolok is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 39% 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 $271 in Polomolok. 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 $625 in Polomolok – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Polomolok runs roughly 13% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Polomolok gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Polomolok 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 Polomolok 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 Polomolok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.