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: $879 in Cebu versus $662 in Polomolok.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,347 in Cebu versus $1,046 in Polomolok.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,815 in Cebu versus $1,430 in Polomolok.

Living in Cebu is roughly 33% more expensive than in Polomolok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 34% lower, Polomolok 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.34 ₱264

$1.76 ₱107

146.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.95 ₱1,458

$13.24 ₱806

80.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.48 ₱272

$2.32 ₱142

93.10%

Cappuccino

$2.58 ₱157

$2.13 ₱130

21.13%

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

$0.78 ₱47.65

$0.43 ₱25.88

81.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.56

$0.52 ₱31.84

-13.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱92.5

$1.13 ₱69.1

34.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.64 ₱100

31.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 ₱141

$1.74 ₱106

32.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ₱92.9

$0.99 ₱60.3

54.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 ₱71.5

$0.72 ₱43.98

62.50%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱143

$2.04 ₱124

15.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 ₱772

$6.09 ₱371

108.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 ₱320

$2.95 ₱179

78.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 ₱480

$6.10 ₱371

29.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱212

$2.78 ₱169

25.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ₱89.0

$0.61 ₱36.98

139.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.32 ₱202

$2.31 ₱141

43.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 ₱138

$0.90 ₱54.9

152.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 ₱162

$1.29 ₱78.8

106.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₱149

$3.24 ₱197

-24.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ₱56.5

$0.93 ₱56.8

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.22

$0.60 ₱36.34

31.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 ₱190

$2.73 ₱166

14.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.37 ₱388

$7.15 ₱435

-10.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₱72.6

$1.05 ₱63.8

13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$1.49 ₱90.5

51.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.83

$0.26 ₱15.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.85 ₱904

$14.39 ₱876

3.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱52.9

$0.91 ₱55.6

-4.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱13.97

$0.25 ₱15.32

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 ₱164

$2.09 ₱127

29.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱67.4

$0.95 ₱58.1

16.84%

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

$30.0K ₱1.8M

$18.1K ₱1.1M

66.09%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

35.89%

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

$96.9 ₱5,896

$57.8 ₱3,521

67.47%

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

$34.35 ₱2,091

$12.54 ₱764

173.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 ₱1,805

$29.43 ₱1,792

0.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.03 ₱2,011

$33.85 ₱2,061

-2.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.50 ₱517

$4.36 ₱265

94.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ₱355

$4.56 ₱278

27.63%

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

$227 ₱13.8K

$120 ₱7,335

88.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,968 ₱241.6K

$1,499 ₱91.3K

164.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 ₱3,245

$45.50 ₱2,770

17.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.14 ₱1,409

$26.69 ₱1,625

-13.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 ₱4,545

$71.1 ₱4,327

5.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 ₱3,318

$69.0 ₱4,203

-21.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₱31.3K

$266 ₱16.2K

93.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 ₱13.2K

$173 ₱10.6K

25.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$785 ₱47.8K

$598 ₱36.4K

31.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 ₱23.6K

$396 ₱24.1K

-1.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,908 ₱177.0K

$2,374 ₱144.6K

22.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,911 ₱116.3K

$971 ₱59.1K

96.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.0K

$244 ₱14.9K

41.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

33.33%

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

Last update for Cebu: July 27, 2026

Last update for Polomolok: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Cebu and $266 in Polomolok. 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 Polomolok for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $165 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, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 33% 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: $515 in Cebu versus $266 in Polomolok. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $879 per month in Cebu versus $662 in Polomolok – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Polomolok runs roughly 3% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $662 in Polomolok versus $879 in Cebu, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Polomolok but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Polomolok the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 33% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.