Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Stirling

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $2,088 in Stirling, rent and utilities included – about $14,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Stirling
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,088
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Stirling

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 Stirling actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $2,088 in Stirling.

  • Cebu $918
  • Stirling $2,088

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $3,217 in Stirling.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Stirling $3,217

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $4,347 in Stirling.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Stirling $4,347

Living in Cebu costs roughly 56% less than in Stirling, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 32% below, Stirling is 55% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Stirling
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$19.80 £14.86
-84.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$93.8 £70.4
-74.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$10.54 £7.91
-62.81%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$4.66 £3.50
-46.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$2.45 £1.83
-35.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$1.89 £1.42
-71.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$5.96 £4.47
-70.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$4.53 £3.40
-52.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Stirling
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$1.36 £1.02
41.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$1.36 £1.02
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$1.91 £1.43
-47.12%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$3.52 £2.64
-42.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$8.85 £6.64
11.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$7.63 £5.72
-42.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$6.74 £5.06
12.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$2.96 £2.22
11.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$1.34 £1.01
3.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$2.71 £2.03
-14.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$2.58 £1.93
-41.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$1.63 £1.22
44.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$1.44 £1.08
31.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$1.03 £0.77
15.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$1.43 £1.07
-55.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$21.77 £16.33
-86.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
$10.91 £8.18
-44.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$2.76 £2.07
-55.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$2.98 £2.23
-41.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Stirling
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
$6.17 £4.63
-95.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
$75.6 £56.7
-83.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$3.95 £2.96
-80.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$2.44 £1.83
-90.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$23.54 £17.66
-81.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$2.00 £1.50
-34.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$38.2K £28.6K
-44.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$39.9K £29.9K
-51.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Stirling
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$274 £206
-56.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$15.17 £11.38
-7.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$39.10 £29.33
-29.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Stirling
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$31.86 £23.90
1.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
$16.57 £12.43
-59.87%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$8.96 £6.72
-36.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Stirling
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$1,729 £1,297
-84.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$23.0K £17.3K
-65.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Stirling
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$95.4 £71.6
-48.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$36.37 £27.28
-30.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$94.2 £70.7
-18.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$53.0 £39.73
8.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Stirling
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$1,042 £782
-52.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$914 £686
-66.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$2,379 £1,785
-54.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
$1,714 £1,286
-64.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Stirling
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
$3,411 £2,559
-89.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
5.11
40.90%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Stirling: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Stirling
$914 196% $605
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Stirling
$251 21.9% $45
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Stirling
$329 103% $167
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Stirling
$126 33.6% $32
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Stirling
$302 242% $214
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Stirling
$50 14.1% $6.2
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Stirling
$116 647% $101

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $1,042 in Stirling. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stirling pays 886% 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 $94.0 in Stirling for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $251 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇬🇧 Stirling
🕒 Local time
01:32 1:32 AM
18:32 6:32 PM
7 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
37,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Stirling 11,210 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Stirling

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 Stirling: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stirling cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 127% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Stirling?
On paper, salaries run 886% lower in Stirling. 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 Stirling?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $1,042 in Stirling. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Stirling?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $2,088 in Stirling – a 127% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Cebu runs roughly 498% less than in Stirling. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cebu or in Stirling?
At $918 in Cebu versus $2,088 in Stirling, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Stirling. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Stirling more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Stirling, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Stirling?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Stirling 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 127% less than in Stirling. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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