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: $873 in Cebu versus $762 in Siargao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,326 in Cebu versus $1,194 in Siargao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,778 in Cebu versus $1,627 in Siargao.

Living in Cebu is roughly 15% more expensive than Siargao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 35% lower, Siargao 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.33 ₱267

$3.61 ₱223

19.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.14 ₱1,489

$19.19 ₱1,183

25.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.36 ₱269

$3.44 ₱212

26.74%

Cappuccino

$2.57 ₱159

$2.62 ₱161

-1.91%

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

$0.84 ₱52.1

$0.77 ₱47.48

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱26.36

$0.37 ₱22.55

16.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱94.5

$1.24 ₱76.2

23.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.15 ₱133

-1.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 ₱137

$1.91 ₱118

15.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ₱92.6

$1.26 ₱77.7

19.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.7

$1.00 ₱61.9

11.00%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.03 ₱125

14.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 ₱803

$7.99 ₱492

63.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ₱330

$4.30 ₱265

24.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₱462

$7.82 ₱482

-4.09%

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 ₱220

$2.98 ₱184

19.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱89.4

$1.55 ₱95.8

-6.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 ₱209

$2.69 ₱166

26.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 ₱134

$1.61 ₱99.1

35.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.59 ₱160

$2.20 ₱135

17.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.48 ₱153

$2.54 ₱157

-2.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.6

$1.07 ₱66.0

-14.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.95

$0.75 ₱46.35

5.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.11 ₱192

$2.81 ₱173

10.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.52 ₱402

$6.83 ₱421

-4.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.4

$1.17 ₱72.0

3.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$1.99 ₱122

16.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.41

$0.28 ₱17.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.00 ₱925

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱51.6

$0.83 ₱51.0

1.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.45

$0.24 ₱14.85

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 ₱166

$2.07 ₱127

29.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.1

$1.09 ₱67.0

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

$30.1K ₱1.9M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

14.82%

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

$27.0K ₱1.7M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

32.08%

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

$95.4 ₱5,880

$114 ₱7,015

-16.17%

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

$33.83 ₱2,086

$32.85 ₱2,026

2.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.78 ₱1,836

$27.70 ₱1,708

7.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.91 ₱2,029

$34.41 ₱2,122

-4.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.43 ₱520

$4.36 ₱269

93.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.84 ₱360

$6.12 ₱377

-4.58%

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

$233 ₱14.3K

$154 ₱9,471

51.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,894 ₱240.1K

$4,272 ₱263.4K

-8.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ₱3,297

$45.30 ₱2,793

18.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.75 ₱1,403

$26.82 ₱1,654

-15.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 ₱4,729

$76.8 ₱4,735

-0.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 ₱3,359

$52.2 ₱3,218

4.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₱31.8K

$260 ₱16.1K

97.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 ₱12.9K

$175 ₱10.8K

19.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 ₱49.6K

$577 ₱35.6K

39.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱24.5K

$400 ₱24.7K

-0.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,955 ₱182.2K

$2,316 ₱142.8K

27.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,923 ₱118.6K

$959 ₱59.1K

100.48%

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 Siargao: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Cebu and $260 in Siargao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $19.00 in Siargao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,309 in Cebu and $1,142 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: $515 in Cebu versus $260 in Siargao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% 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 $762 in Siargao – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $762 in Siargao versus $873 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 15% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.