Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Rabigh

For one person, living costs are similar in Cebu and in Rabigh: $934 and $953 a month, rent and utilities included.

Cebu, Philippines
Rabigh, Saudi Arabia
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Rabigh
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$953
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Rabigh

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cebu and in Rabigh actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $934 in Cebu versus $953 in Rabigh.

  • Cebu $934
  • Rabigh $953

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,423 in Cebu versus $1,456 in Rabigh.

  • Cebu $1,423
  • Rabigh $1,456

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,913 in Cebu versus $1,960 in Rabigh.

  • Cebu $1,913
  • Rabigh $1,960

Living in Cebu costs roughly 2% less than in Rabigh, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 31% lower, Rabigh 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Rabigh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.79 ₱243
$4.66 SAR 17.49
-18.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.33 ₱1,493
$26.40 SAR 99.1
-11.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.94 ₱252
$6.97 SAR 26.15
-43.47%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.52 SAR 5.72
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.58 SAR 5.93
-
Cappuccino
$2.54 ₱163
$2.57 SAR 9.63
-1.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ₱100
$0.70 SAR 2.63
124.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₱29.87
$0.23 SAR 0.86
104.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.77 ₱113
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 ₱142
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Rabigh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 ₱121
$1.88 SAR 7.06
1.06%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱87.3
$1.02 SAR 3.82
33.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.94 ₱59.9
$2.19 SAR 8.23
-57.08%
Eggs
$1.99 ₱127
$2.56 SAR 9.61
-22.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.70 ₱621
$6.08 SAR 22.80
59.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 ₱276
$12.04 SAR 45.18
-64.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.51 ₱481
$12.95 SAR 48.60
-42.01%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 ₱212
$2.08 SAR 7.81
59.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 ₱87.6
$1.62 SAR 6.08
-15.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 ₱150
$1.80 SAR 6.76
30.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 ₱95.5
$1.50 SAR 5.63
-0.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.30 ₱147
$1.33 SAR 4.99
72.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 ₱120
$1.51 SAR 5.67
23.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₱70.4
$1.06 SAR 3.97
3.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱40.42
$0.74 SAR 2.77
-14.86%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$2.89 SAR 10.84
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.19 SAR 8.22
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.56 SAR 5.85
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.86 ₱183
$7.94 SAR 29.80
-63.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.08 ₱389
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 ₱81.6
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₱110
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Rabigh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 ₱14.01
$1.08 SAR 4.06
-79.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.34 ₱790
$33.60 SAR 126
-63.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱47.60
$2.41 SAR 9.06
-69.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱14.10
$2.61 SAR 9.80
-91.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.28 ₱274
$13.48 SAR 50.6
-68.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱83.8
$0.61 SAR 2.27
114.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K ₱1.3M
$26.6K SAR 99.9K
-22.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K ₱1.2M
$21.4K SAR 80.3K
-10.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Rabigh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$118 ₱7,577
$66.6 SAR 250
77.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.76 ₱1,009
$34.24 SAR 128
-53.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.33 ₱1,813
$63.8 SAR 239
-55.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Rabigh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.94 ₱2,108
$74.0 SAR 278
-55.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.49 ₱415
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.45 ₱349
$15.35 SAR 57.6
-64.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Rabigh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$276 ₱17.6K
$428 SAR 1,606
-35.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,789 ₱498.4K
$7,737 SAR 29.0K
0.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Rabigh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.18 ₱3,083
$13.32 SAR 49.99
261.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.47 ₱1,566
$55.3 SAR 207
-55.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.3 ₱4,817
$39.72 SAR 149
89.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.0 ₱3,713
$53.7 SAR 201
8.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Rabigh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 ₱30.5K
$335 SAR 1,258
42.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$322 ₱20.6K
$244 SAR 917
31.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 ₱61.6K
$610 SAR 2,291
57.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$626 ₱40.0K
$424 SAR 1,591
47.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,551 ₱291.2K
$1,728 SAR 6,484
163.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,028 ₱193.8K
$1,478 SAR 5,546
104.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Rabigh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$333 ₱21.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
5.25
37.14%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 26, 2026

Last update for Rabigh: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$322
Rabigh
$244 24.1% $77
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$204
Rabigh
$220 8.1% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163
Rabigh
$165 1.3% $2.2
Eating Out
Cebu
$94
Rabigh
$93 1.5% $1.4
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$93
Rabigh
$73 21.4% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Rabigh
$105 139% $61
Getting Around
Cebu
$15
Rabigh
$53 255% $38

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Cebu and $335 in Rabigh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23 in Cebu vs $26 in Rabigh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $220 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇸🇦 Rabigh
🕒 Local time
22:40 10:40 PM
17:40 5:40 PM
5 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
92,072
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

SAR, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 63.99 PHP (100 PHP = 1.56 USD). 1 EUR = 71.22 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.18 SAR (1 SAR = 0.239 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Rabigh 9,050 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Rabigh

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Rabigh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Rabigh?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in leisure, utilities, and transport. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,401 in Cebu and $1,429 in Rabigh to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Cebu and Rabigh?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Cebu versus $335 in Rabigh. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Rabigh?
All in, you’ll spend $934 per month in Cebu versus $953 in Rabigh – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Cebu runs roughly 63% less than in Rabigh. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you’re watching your budget.
Is it better to live in Cebu or in Rabigh?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Rabigh?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Rabigh are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

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