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: $854 in Cebu versus $658 in Polomolok.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,318 in Cebu versus $1,045 in Polomolok.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,782 in Cebu versus $1,433 in Polomolok.

Living in Cebu is roughly 30% more expensive than Polomolok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 36% lower, Polomolok 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.40 ₱271

$1.80 ₱111

144.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.98 ₱1,479

$13.12 ₱809

82.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$2.28 ₱141

99.12%

Cappuccino

$2.53 ₱156

$2.11 ₱130

19.91%

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

$0.85 ₱52.6

$0.45 ₱27.85

88.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.85

$0.53 ₱32.81

-15.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱93.6

$1.12 ₱69.0

35.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.64 ₱101

33.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 ₱142

$1.68 ₱103

36.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ₱96.8

$1.00 ₱61.7

57.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ₱71.2

$0.70 ₱42.89

64.29%

Eggs

$2.36 ₱146

$2.02 ₱124

16.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 ₱804

$6.13 ₱378

112.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.10 ₱314

$3.05 ₱188

67.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 ₱490

$6.28 ₱387

26.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 ₱215

$2.82 ₱174

23.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₱92.9

$0.65 ₱40.04

132.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$2.41 ₱149

36.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱135

$0.90 ₱55.6

143.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.31 ₱80.9

99.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₱151

$3.23 ₱200

-24.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.9

$0.86 ₱53.0

6.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.4

$0.56 ₱34.58

48.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.27 ₱202

$2.62 ₱162

24.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 ₱416

$7.24 ₱446

-6.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.7

$1.06 ₱65.3

14.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱140

$1.52 ₱93.6

49.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.37

$0.26 ₱15.90

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.14 ₱934

$14.24 ₱879

6.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.6

$0.90 ₱55.5

-3.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.50

$0.23 ₱14.08

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.15 ₱133

21.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱70.3

$1.03 ₱63.7

10.68%

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

$29.6K ₱1.8M

$17.4K ₱1.1M

69.85%

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

$27.0K ₱1.7M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

38.18%

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

$95.2 ₱5,870

$58.1 ₱3,583

63.83%

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

$33.67 ₱2,077

$12.48 ₱770

169.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.79 ₱1,837

$29.48 ₱1,818

1.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.90 ₱2,029

$33.84 ₱2,087

-2.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.16 ₱503

$4.38 ₱270

86.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱357

$4.50 ₱278

28.67%

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

$232 ₱14.3K

$119 ₱7,312

95.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,860 ₱238.1K

$1,531 ₱94.4K

152.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 ₱3,214

$46.27 ₱2,854

12.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.82 ₱1,407

$26.14 ₱1,612

-12.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ₱4,736

$71.2 ₱4,390

7.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.3 ₱3,351

$69.6 ₱4,292

-21.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 ₱30.6K

$268 ₱16.6K

85.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 ₱13.2K

$177 ₱10.9K

20.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ₱49.2K

$577 ₱35.6K

38.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₱23.8K

$391 ₱24.1K

-1.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,968 ₱183.1K

$2,380 ₱146.8K

24.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,963 ₱121.1K

$339 ₱20.9K

479.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$383 ₱23.6K

$244 ₱15.1K

56.66%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Polomolok: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $497 in Cebu and $268 in Polomolok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 57% 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 $242 vs $166 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 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Cebu pays 57% 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 $268 in Polomolok. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $854 per month in Cebu versus $658 in Polomolok – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Polomolok runs roughly 6% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $658 in Polomolok versus $854 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 30% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.