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: $931 in Cebu versus $658 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,439 in Cebu versus $1,006 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,947 in Cebu versus $1,353 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Living in Cebu is roughly 41% more expensive than in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Subic Bay Freeport Zone 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.05 ₱191

$4.75 ₱298

-35.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.09 ₱1,448

$14.45 ₱906

59.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.03 ₱253

$5.25 ₱329

-23.24%

Cappuccino

$2.58 ₱162

$2.20 ₱138

17.27%

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

$1.53 ₱95.9

$0.60 ₱37.36

155.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.31

$0.31 ₱19.45

70.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 ₱107

$1.47 ₱92.1

16.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱143

$2.02 ₱127

12.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ₱118

$1.60 ₱101

16.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 ₱84.0

$1.18 ₱74.0

13.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₱64.1

$1.06 ₱66.6

-3.77%

Eggs

$1.96 ₱123

$1.94 ₱122

1.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.93 ₱623

$4.57 ₱287

117.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 ₱287

$3.71 ₱233

23.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.45 ₱467

$6.39 ₱401

16.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 ₱217

$2.22 ₱139

55.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱91.2

$1.56 ₱98.1

-7.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ₱150

$2.65 ₱166

-9.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ₱97.4

$1.18 ₱74.2

31.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$2.05 ₱128

12.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 ₱118

$2.16 ₱136

-12.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 ₱77.1

$0.75 ₱47.27

64.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₱39.10

$0.60 ₱37.78

3.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.92 ₱183

3.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.13 ₱385

$8.02 ₱503

-23.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₱81.1

$0.97 ₱60.8

32.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₱107

$1.90 ₱119

-10.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.71

$0.20 ₱12.52

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.35 ₱775

$9.83 ₱616

25.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.79 ₱49.72

$0.81 ₱50.7

-2.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 ₱12.52

$0.23 ₱14.37

-13.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 ₱276

$1.85 ₱116

137.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ₱82.1

$1.04 ₱65.2

25.96%

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

$21.6K ₱1.4M

$21.9K ₱1.4M

-1.27%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$16.7K ₱1.0M

15.51%

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

$122 ₱7,681

$141 ₱8,852

-13.23%

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

$15.08 ₱946

$15.67 ₱983

-3.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.10 ₱1,762

$16.38 ₱1,028

71.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.67 ₱1,987

$30.31 ₱1,901

4.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.65 ₱417

$4.68 ₱293

42.09%

Cinema Ticket

$5.40 ₱339

$5.09 ₱319

6.09%

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

$278 ₱17.5K

$129 ₱8,063

116.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,849 ₱492.3K

$7,462 ₱468.0K

5.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.20 ₱3,023

$35.14 ₱2,204

37.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.32 ₱1,588

$19.42 ₱1,218

30.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ₱4,782

$63.3 ₱3,972

20.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.1 ₱3,643

$50.8 ₱3,187

14.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.7K

$128 ₱8,040

281.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₱19.3K

$78.6 ₱4,931

290.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,075 ₱67.4K

$327 ₱20.5K

228.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.9K

$191 ₱12.0K

233.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,871 ₱180.0K

$2,625 ₱164.6K

9.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,912 ₱119.9K

$913 ₱57.3K

109.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$335 ₱21.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

6.75

6.67%

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

Last update for Cebu: September 13, 2026

Last update for Subic Bay Freeport Zone: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $489 in Cebu and $128 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Cebu vs $14.00 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $174 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, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,396 in Cebu and $988 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: $489 in Cebu versus $128 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 $931 per month in Cebu versus $658 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone – a 41% 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 26% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Subic Bay Freeport Zone gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 41% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.