For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $915 a month against $1,784 in Sligo, rent and utilities included – about $10,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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 Sligo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $915 in Cebu versus $1,784 in Sligo.
Cebu $915
Sligo $1,784
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,418 in Cebu versus $2,736 in Sligo.
Cebu $1,418
Sligo $2,736
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,921 in Cebu versus $3,688 in Sligo.
Cebu $1,921
Sligo $3,688
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 49% less than in Sligo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 33% below, Sligo is 32% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Sligo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.05₱192
$17.00€15.12
-82.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.00₱1,511
$77.8€69.2
-69.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.99₱251
$8.98€7.99
-55.57%
Cappuccino
$2.50₱157
$3.67€3.26
-31.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54₱97.1
$2.57€2.29
-40.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50₱31.37
$1.88€1.67
-73.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78₱112
$6.42€5.71
-72.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱136
$6.07€5.40
-64.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Sligo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00₱126
$1.47€1.31
36.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.37₱86.2
$1.44€1.28
-4.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03₱64.9
$1.57€1.40
-34.39%
Eggs
$2.03₱128
$3.53€3.14
-42.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20₱642
$8.54€7.59
19.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.45₱280
$9.05€8.05
-50.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.67₱483
$11.18€9.94
-31.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31₱208
$2.08€1.85
59.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46₱91.8
$1.75€1.56
-16.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32₱146
$2.84€2.52
-18.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49₱94.0
$2.75€2.45
-45.82%
Potato(1kg)
$2.34₱147
$1.71€1.52
36.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94₱122
$1.18€1.05
64.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16₱73.0
$1.26€1.12
-7.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68₱42.89
$1.64€1.46
-58.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99₱188
$17.28€15.37
-82.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.24₱393
$11.43€10.17
-45.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23₱77.3
$2.64€2.34
-53.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73₱109
$3.84€3.42
-54.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Sligo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23₱14.36
$2.20€1.96
-89.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.34₱777
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79₱49.96
$5.72€5.09
-86.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₱13.86
$1.44€1.28
-84.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.54₱286
$67.4€60.0
-93.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32₱82.9
$2.00€1.78
-34.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K₱1.3M
$39.7K€35.3K
-47.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K₱1.2M
$37.1K€33.0K
-47.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Sligo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$119₱7,464
$166€147
-28.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.22₱896
$22.20€19.75
-35.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.47₱1,730
$46.25€41.14
-40.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Sligo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.31₱2,034
$65.6€58.3
-50.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.50₱409
$11.19€9.95
-41.91%
Cinema Ticket
$5.40₱340
$10.99€9.78
-50.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Sligo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$276₱17.4K
$807€718
-65.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,866₱495.3K
$2,248€2,000
249.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Sligo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.37₱3,108
$88.7€78.9
-44.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.58₱1,548
$28.13€25.02
-12.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.6₱4,825
$73.8€65.6
3.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.9₱3,706
$90.3€80.3
-34.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Sligo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$503₱31.7K
$1,378€1,226
-63.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305₱19.2K
$770€685
-60.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,075₱67.7K
$2,286€2,034
-52.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632₱39.8K
$1,360€1,210
-53.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,870₱180.7K
$2,114€1,880
35.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,877₱118.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Sligo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$336₱21.1K
$4,161€3,701
-91.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
3.6
100.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 19, 2026
Last update for Sligo: October 17, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$305 33.3%
Sligo
$770 43.1% ↑ 153%$465
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210 22.9%
Sligo
$276 15.5% ↑ 31.6%$66
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$160 17.5%
Sligo
$234 13.1% ↑ 46.1%$74
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94 10.3%
Sligo
$126 7.1% ↑ 34.1%$32
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Sligo
$269 15.1% ↑ 207%$181
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$43 4.7%
Sligo
$88 4.9% ↑ 103%$44
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$15 1.7%
Sligo
$22 * 1.2% ↑ 43.2%$6.5
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$632 32.9%
Sligo
$1.4K 36.9% ↑ 115%$728
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$491 25.6%
Sligo
$627 17% ↑ 27.5%$135
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$174 9.1%
Sligo
$256 7% ↑ 46.9%$82
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$209 10.9%
Sligo
$281 7.6% ↑ 34.1%$71
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$290 15.1%
Sligo
$930 25.2% ↑ 221%$640
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$93 4.8%
Sligo
$186 5.1% ↑ 101%$94
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$31 1.6%
Sligo
$48 * 1.3% ↑ 55.4%$17
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $503 in Cebu and $1,378 in Sligo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sligo pays 1139% 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: $24.00 in Cebu vs $78.0 in Sligo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $276 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.
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 Sligo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sligo cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 95% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Sligo?
On paper, salaries run 1139% lower in Sligo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Cebu and Sligo?
Rent for a central apartment: $503 in Cebu versus $1,378 in Sligo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cebu and in Sligo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Sligo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Sligo?
All in, you'll spend $915 per month in Cebu versus $1,784 in Sligo – a 95% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cebu or in Sligo?
At $915 in Cebu versus $1,784 in Sligo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Sligo. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Sligo more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sligo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Sligo?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Sligo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Sligo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.