Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Siargao Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Siargao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $924 in Cebu versus $778 in Siargao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,414 in Cebu versus $1,212 in Siargao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,905 in Cebu versus $1,645 in Siargao.

Living in Cebu is roughly 19% more expensive than in Siargao, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 33% lower, Siargao 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 ₱191

$3.62 ₱226

-15.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.18 ₱1,445

$19.51 ₱1,217

18.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.04 ₱252

$3.29 ₱205

22.80%

Cappuccino

$2.49 ₱155

$2.60 ₱162

-4.23%

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

$1.52 ₱94.8

$0.83 ₱51.5

83.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱30.54

$0.37 ₱23.06

32.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 ₱112

$1.29 ₱80.4

39.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₱143

$2.11 ₱131

8.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱120

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 ₱86.8

$1.23 ₱76.6

13.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.2

$0.96 ₱60.0

5.21%

Eggs

$2.03 ₱126

$2.05 ₱128

-0.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.87 ₱616

$8.26 ₱515

19.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱282

$4.34 ₱271

4.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.59 ₱474

$7.82 ₱487

-2.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 ₱208

$2.87 ₱179

16.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 ₱87.2

$1.56 ₱97.2

-10.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱150

$2.58 ₱161

-6.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ₱96.6

$1.62 ₱101

-4.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 ₱153

$2.25 ₱140

9.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ₱119

$2.62 ₱163

-27.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 ₱76.5

$1.07 ₱66.5

14.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₱38.60

$0.76 ₱47.59

-18.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ₱179

$2.86 ₱178

0.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.30 ₱393

$6.64 ₱414

-5.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 ₱80.8

$1.16 ₱72.6

12.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 ₱109

$2.06 ₱129

-15.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.22

$0.26 ₱16.01

-11.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.66 ₱790

$11.32 ₱706

11.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₱46.55

$0.83 ₱51.8

-9.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.34

$0.22 ₱13.72

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.33 ₱270

$2.17 ₱135

99.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ₱78.9

$1.14 ₱71.1

10.53%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$26.5K ₱1.7M

-20.37%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

-3.73%

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

$121 ₱7,546

$111 ₱6,908

9.24%

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

$15.07 ₱940

$33.32 ₱2,078

-54.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.29 ₱1,702

$27.25 ₱1,699

0.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.26 ₱2,012

$33.44 ₱2,085

-3.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.38 ₱398

$4.46 ₱278

43.05%

Cinema Ticket

$5.63 ₱351

$5.95 ₱371

-5.38%

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

$281 ₱17.5K

$154 ₱9,620

82.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,117 ₱506.2K

$4,282 ₱267.0K

89.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.04 ₱3,058

$44.89 ₱2,799

9.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.72 ₱1,542

$27.03 ₱1,686

-8.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 ₱4,860

$75.4 ₱4,700

3.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.3 ₱3,637

$52.2 ₱3,254

11.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$503 ₱31.4K

$265 ₱16.5K

89.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₱19.1K

$173 ₱10.8K

77.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 ₱67.7K

$597 ₱37.2K

81.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₱39.4K

$391 ₱24.4K

61.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,868 ₱178.9K

$2,360 ₱147.2K

21.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,891 ₱117.9K

$1,019 ₱63.6K

85.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

6.67

7.95%

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

Last update for Cebu: September 7, 2026

Last update for Siargao: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $503 in Cebu and $265 in Siargao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Cebu vs $20.00 in Siargao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $204 per month, with Siargao 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 Siargao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Siargao is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,386 in Cebu and $1,167 in Siargao 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: $503 in Cebu versus $265 in Siargao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $924 per month in Cebu versus $778 in Siargao – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Siargao runs roughly 12% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $778 in Siargao versus $924 in Cebu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Siargao but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Siargao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Siargao 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 Siargao 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 Siargao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.