Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Subic Bay Freeport Zone Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Subic Bay Freeport Zone

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $879 in Cebu versus $746 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,347 in Cebu versus $1,291 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,815 in Cebu versus $1,835 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Living in Cebu is roughly 18% more expensive than in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 34% lower, Subic Bay Freeport Zone 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.34 ₱266

$4.36 ₱267

-0.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.95 ₱1,466

$15.63 ₱957

53.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.48 ₱274

$3.58 ₱219

25.14%

Cappuccino

$2.58 ₱158

$2.43 ₱149

6.17%

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

$0.78 ₱47.91

$0.87 ₱53.0

-10.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.71

$0.49 ₱30.13

-8.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱93.0

$1.49 ₱91.5

2.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$2.34 ₱143

-8.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 ₱142

$1.81 ₱111

27.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ₱93.4

$1.53 ₱93.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 ₱71.9

$0.94 ₱57.6

24.47%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$1.99 ₱122

18.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 ₱776

$7.94 ₱486

59.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 ₱322

$5.11 ₱313

2.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 ₱482

$13.42 ₱822

-41.28%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱213

$2.96 ₱181

17.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ₱89.5

$1.80 ₱110

-18.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.32 ₱203

$1.42 ₱86.9

133.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 ₱139

$1.20 ₱73.3

89.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 ₱163

$1.69 ₱103

57.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₱150

$1.35 ₱82.7

81.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ₱56.8

$1.06 ₱64.7

-12.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.49

$0.88 ₱54.1

-10.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 ₱191

$2.52 ₱154

23.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.37 ₱390

$8.11 ₱497

-21.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₱73.0

$0.81 ₱49.89

46.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱138

$2.28 ₱139

-1.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.22 ₱13.42

18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.85 ₱909

$17.75 ₱1,087

-16.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.1

$0.72 ₱44.22

20.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.04

$0.25 ₱15.15

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 ₱165

$2.08 ₱127

29.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱67.8

$1.16 ₱71.3

-4.31%

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

$30.0K ₱1.8M

$28.2K ₱1.7M

6.25%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$17.6K ₱1.1M

51.58%

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

$96.9 ₱5,928

$130 ₱7,947

-25.40%

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

$34.35 ₱2,103

$10.78 ₱660

218.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 ₱1,815

$18.88 ₱1,156

57.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.03 ₱2,022

$31.43 ₱1,924

5.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.50 ₱520

$4.50 ₱275

88.89%

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ₱356

$7.60 ₱465

-23.42%

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

$227 ₱13.9K

$154 ₱9,404

47.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,968 ₱242.9K

$4,331 ₱265.1K

-8.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 ₱3,263

$45.58 ₱2,790

16.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.14 ₱1,417

$33.88 ₱2,074

-31.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 ₱4,570

$67.8 ₱4,150

10.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 ₱3,336

$117 ₱7,184

-53.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₱31.5K

$141 ₱8,624

265.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 ₱13.3K

$88.7 ₱5,431

144.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$785 ₱48.1K

$365 ₱22.4K

114.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 ₱23.8K

$474 ₱29.0K

-17.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,908 ₱178.0K

$2,328 ₱142.5K

24.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,911 ₱117.0K

$1,096 ₱67.1K

74.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

29.66%

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

Last update for Cebu: July 27, 2026

Last update for Subic Bay Freeport Zone: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Cebu and $141 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $16.00 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $219 per month, with Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 Subic Bay Freeport Zone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Subic Bay Freeport Zone is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,318 in Cebu and $1,119 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 $141 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $879 per month in Cebu versus $746 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Subic Bay Freeport Zone runs roughly 20% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $746 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone versus $879 in Cebu, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Subic Bay Freeport Zone but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Subic Bay Freeport Zone the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 Subic Bay Freeport Zone gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.