Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Puerto Princesa Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Puerto Princesa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $936 in Cebu versus $714 in Puerto Princesa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,427 in Cebu versus $1,062 in Puerto Princesa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,918 in Cebu versus $1,409 in Puerto Princesa.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.09 ₱193

$4.38 ₱274

-29.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.80 ₱1,488

$16.56 ₱1,035

43.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.10 ₱257

$4.41 ₱276

-7.03%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$2.38 ₱149

9.24%

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

$1.55 ₱96.9

$0.91 ₱56.6

70.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.46

$0.49 ₱30.45

10.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 ₱108

$1.26 ₱78.9

37.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱137

$2.37 ₱148

-7.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱120

$1.76 ₱110

9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 ₱87.1

$1.00 ₱62.6

39.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ₱60.8

$0.78 ₱48.65

24.36%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱125

$1.76 ₱110

13.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.93 ₱621

$5.30 ₱331

87.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.38 ₱274

$5.51 ₱344

-20.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.41 ₱463

$6.91 ₱432

7.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 ₱217

$2.40 ₱150

44.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₱91.7

$0.92 ₱57.7

59.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱151

$2.74 ₱171

-12.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₱96.5

$1.15 ₱72.1

33.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.36 ₱148

$1.49 ₱93.1

58.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ₱119

$1.32 ₱82.8

44.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₱77.3

$0.78 ₱48.94

58.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₱41.42

$0.72 ₱45.21

-8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 ₱188

$2.94 ₱184

2.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.08 ₱380

$7.02 ₱439

-13.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₱81.8

$1.02 ₱64.1

28.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₱108

$1.30 ₱81.3

33.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.65

$0.25 ₱15.63

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.73 ₱796

$11.53 ₱721

10.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₱46.78

$0.81 ₱50.8

-7.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.41

$0.22 ₱13.90

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 ₱288

$1.94 ₱122

137.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₱83.7

$1.04 ₱65.3

28.85%

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

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$16.9K ₱1.1M

28.70%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

-1.41%

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

$121 ₱7,564

$63.1 ₱3,945

91.73%

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

$14.86 ₱929

$10.88 ₱680

36.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.84 ₱1,741

$24.45 ₱1,529

13.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.06 ₱2,005

$32.25 ₱2,016

-0.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.43 ₱402

$4.97 ₱311

29.38%

Cinema Ticket

$5.64 ₱352

$5.08 ₱318

11.02%

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

$273 ₱17.1K

$131 ₱8,214

108.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,017 ₱501.3K

$7,903 ₱494.2K

1.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.77 ₱3,050

$32.15 ₱2,010

51.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 ₱1,594

$19.63 ₱1,227

29.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 ₱4,884

$73.0 ₱4,564

7.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.8 ₱3,616

$55.4 ₱3,461

4.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱31.3K

$289 ₱18.1K

73.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 ₱18.7K

$204 ₱12.7K

47.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 ₱68.1K

$515 ₱32.2K

111.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₱39.5K

$319 ₱20.0K

97.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,888 ₱180.6K

$2,600 ₱162.6K

11.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,877 ₱117.3K

$1,047 ₱65.4K

79.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.7K

$221 ₱13.8K

56.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

8.12

-11.33%

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

Last update for Cebu: August 30, 2026

Last update for Puerto Princesa: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $289 in Puerto Princesa. 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 $17.00 in Puerto Princesa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $177 per month, with Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 57% 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: $500 in Cebu versus $289 in Puerto Princesa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $936 per month in Cebu versus $714 in Puerto Princesa – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Puerto Princesa runs roughly 10% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $714 in Puerto Princesa versus $936 in Cebu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Puerto Princesa but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Puerto Princesa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa 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.