Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and San Pedro Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and San Pedro

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $931 in Cebu versus $710 in San Pedro.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,439 in Cebu versus $1,068 in San Pedro.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,947 in Cebu versus $1,425 in San Pedro.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, San Pedro 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.05 ₱191

$4.02 ₱252

-24.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.09 ₱1,451

$16.37 ₱1,029

41.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.03 ₱253

$2.87 ₱180

40.42%

Cappuccino

$2.58 ₱162

$1.79 ₱113

44.13%

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

$1.53 ₱96.1

$0.56 ₱35.31

173.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.37

$0.34 ₱21.08

55.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 ₱108

$0.98 ₱61.4

74.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱143

$1.56 ₱98.2

45.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ₱118

$1.67 ₱105

11.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 ₱84.2

$1.15 ₱72.1

16.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₱64.3

$0.94 ₱59.3

8.51%

Eggs

$1.96 ₱123

$2.01 ₱126

-2.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.93 ₱624

$4.99 ₱314

99.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 ₱288

$3.43 ₱215

33.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.45 ₱468

$6.80 ₱427

9.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 ₱217

$2.31 ₱145

49.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱91.4

$1.61 ₱101

-9.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱150

$2.38 ₱149

0.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ₱97.6

$1.02 ₱64.0

51.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$1.73 ₱109

33.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 ₱118

$1.72 ₱108

9.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 ₱77.2

$0.62 ₱39.15

98.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₱39.16

$0.49 ₱30.85

26.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.96 ₱186

1.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.13 ₱385

$8.82 ₱554

-30.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₱81.3

$0.99 ₱61.9

30.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₱107

$2.09 ₱131

-18.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.74

$0.22 ₱13.94

13.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.35 ₱776

$11.91 ₱749

3.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.79 ₱49.81

$0.82 ₱51.4

-3.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 ₱12.54

$0.21 ₱13.15

-4.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 ₱276

$1.96 ₱123

124.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ₱82.2

$1.20 ₱75.2

9.17%

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

$21.6K ₱1.4M

0.10%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$18.8K ₱1.2M

2.53%

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

$122 ₱7,694

$124 ₱7,801

-1.38%

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

$15.08 ₱948

$15.32 ₱963

-1.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.10 ₱1,765

$23.32 ₱1,465

20.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.67 ₱1,990

$28.65 ₱1,800

10.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.65 ₱418

$5.22 ₱328

27.39%

Cinema Ticket

$5.40 ₱339

$5.05 ₱318

6.93%

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

$278 ₱17.5K

$133 ₱8,347

109.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,849 ₱493.1K

$8,826 ₱554.5K

-11.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.20 ₱3,028

$28.74 ₱1,806

67.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.32 ₱1,591

$19.14 ₱1,203

32.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,790

$72.8 ₱4,571

4.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.1 ₱3,649

$56.1 ₱3,526

3.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.7K

$260 ₱16.3K

88.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₱19.3K

$181 ₱11.4K

69.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,075 ₱67.5K

$445 ₱27.9K

141.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.9K

$313 ₱19.7K

103.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,871 ₱180.4K

$2,714 ₱170.5K

5.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,912 ₱120.1K

$1,144 ₱71.9K

67.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$335 ₱21.0K

$306 ₱19.2K

9.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

6.75

6.67%

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

Last update for Cebu: September 13, 2026

Last update for San Pedro: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $489 in Cebu and $260 in San Pedro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 9% 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: $23.00 in Cebu vs $16.00 in San Pedro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $172 per month, with San Pedro 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 Pedro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 9% 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: $489 in Cebu versus $260 in San Pedro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $931 per month in Cebu versus $710 in San Pedro – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Pedro runs roughly 4% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though San Pedro gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, San Pedro 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 Pedro 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 Pedro 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.