Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and San Fernando, La Union Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and San Fernando, La Union

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $873 in Cebu versus $677 in San Fernando, La Union.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,326 in Cebu versus $1,032 in San Fernando, La Union.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,778 in Cebu versus $1,387 in San Fernando, La Union.

Living in Cebu is roughly 29% more expensive than San Fernando, La Union, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 35% lower, San Fernando, La Union 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.33 ₱267

$3.62 ₱224

19.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.14 ₱1,489

$18.01 ₱1,111

34.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.36 ₱269

$3.24 ₱200

34.57%

Cappuccino

$2.57 ₱159

$2.48 ₱153

3.63%

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

$0.84 ₱52.1

$0.78 ₱48.35

7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱26.36

$0.37 ₱22.54

16.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱94.5

$1.30 ₱79.9

17.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.10 ₱130

0.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 ₱137

$2.94 ₱181

-24.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ₱92.6

$1.27 ₱78.3

18.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.7

$0.93 ₱57.4

19.35%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.00 ₱123

16.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 ₱803

$8.17 ₱504

59.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ₱330

$4.24 ₱261

26.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₱462

$7.51 ₱463

-0.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 ₱220

$2.96 ₱182

20.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱89.4

$1.55 ₱95.4

-6.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 ₱209

$2.64 ₱163

28.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 ₱134

$1.61 ₱99.3

35.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.59 ₱160

$2.30 ₱142

12.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.48 ₱153

$2.61 ₱161

-4.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.6

$1.06 ₱65.5

-13.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.95

$0.73 ₱44.80

8.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.11 ₱192

$2.92 ₱180

6.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.52 ₱402

$8.20 ₱506

-20.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.4

$1.21 ₱74.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$1.99 ₱123

16.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.41

$0.28 ₱17.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.00 ₱925

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱51.6

$0.82 ₱50.6

2.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.45

$0.24 ₱14.88

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 ₱166

$2.07 ₱128

29.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.1

$1.16 ₱71.2

-6.03%

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

$30.1K ₱1.9M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

15.06%

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

$27.0K ₱1.7M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

30.27%

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

$95.4 ₱5,880

$111 ₱6,873

-14.45%

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

$33.83 ₱2,086

$32.80 ₱2,023

3.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.78 ₱1,836

$27.83 ₱1,716

7.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.91 ₱2,029

$13.42 ₱828

145.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.43 ₱520

$4.49 ₱277

87.75%

Cinema Ticket

$5.84 ₱360

$5.82 ₱359

0.34%

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

$233 ₱14.3K

$153 ₱9,463

51.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,894 ₱240.1K

$5,736 ₱353.7K

-32.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ₱3,297

$44.93 ₱2,770

19.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.75 ₱1,403

$26.48 ₱1,633

-14.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 ₱4,729

$35.74 ₱2,204

114.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 ₱3,359

$40.67 ₱2,508

33.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₱31.8K

$131 ₱8,067

293.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 ₱12.9K

$123 ₱7,593

69.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 ₱49.6K

$249 ₱15.4K

223.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱24.5K

$215 ₱13.3K

84.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,955 ₱182.2K

$2,315 ₱142.8K

27.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,923 ₱118.6K

$974 ₱60.1K

97.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$364 ₱22.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

19.94%

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

Last update for Cebu: June 2, 2026

Last update for San Fernando, La Union: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Cebu and $131 in San Fernando, La Union. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $18.00 in San Fernando, La Union for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $216 per month, with San Fernando, La Union 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 San Fernando, La Union: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Fernando, La Union is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,309 in Cebu and $1,016 in San Fernando, La Union 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $515 in Cebu versus $131 in San Fernando, La Union. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $873 per month in Cebu versus $677 in San Fernando, La Union – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $677 in San Fernando, La Union versus $873 in Cebu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Fernando, La Union but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes San Fernando, La Union the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, San Fernando, La Union 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 San Fernando, La Union 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 San Fernando, La Union gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.