😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $854 in Cebu versus $747 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,318 in Cebu versus $1,304 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,782 in Cebu versus $1,861 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
😐Living in Cebu is roughly 14% more expensive than Subic Bay Freeport Zone, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu36% lower, Subic Bay Freeport Zone44% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40₱271
$4.52₱279
-2.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.98₱1,479
$15.84₱977
51.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.54₱280
$3.65₱225
24.38%
Cappuccino
$2.53₱156
$2.46₱152
2.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85₱52.6
$0.85₱52.6
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₱27.85
$0.46₱28.35
-2.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.52₱93.6
$1.44₱88.8
5.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19₱135
$2.28₱141
-3.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$2.30₱142
$1.81₱111
27.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57₱96.8
$1.54₱94.8
1.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15₱71.2
$1.00₱61.4
15.00%
Eggs
$2.36₱146
$2.00₱124
18.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.03₱804
$8.03₱495
62.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.10₱314
$5.08₱313
0.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.95₱490
$13.49₱832
-41.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.49₱215
$2.95₱182
18.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51₱92.9
$1.80₱111
-16.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.29₱203
$1.40₱86.4
135.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19₱135
$1.18₱72.9
85.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.61₱161
$1.72₱106
51.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.45₱151
$1.36₱83.8
80.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92₱56.9
$1.12₱68.9
-17.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83₱51.4
$0.84₱51.7
-1.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.27₱202
$2.42₱149
35.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.74₱416
$8.22₱507
-18.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21₱74.7
$0.81₱50.2
49.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27₱140
$2.23₱137
1.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₱17.37
$0.22₱13.56
27.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.14₱934
$18.15₱1,119
-16.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.87₱53.6
$0.68₱41.77
27.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₱15.50
$0.27₱16.78
-7.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.61₱161
$2.17₱134
20.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₱70.3
$1.11₱68.4
2.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K₱1.8M
$28.2K₱1.7M
4.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K₱1.7M
$17.9K₱1.1M
51.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$95.2₱5,870
$131₱8,060
-27.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.67₱2,077
$11.04₱681
204.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.79₱1,837
$18.26₱1,126
63.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.90₱2,029
$31.90₱1,968
3.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.16₱503
$4.36₱269
87.16%
Cinema Ticket
$5.79₱357
$7.35₱454
-21.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$232₱14.3K
$151₱9,322
53.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,860₱238.1K
$4,274₱263.6K
-9.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.1₱3,214
$46.37₱2,860
12.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.82₱1,407
$33.81₱2,085
-32.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.8₱4,736
$68.0₱4,192
12.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.3₱3,351
$113₱6,968
-51.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$497₱30.6K
$141₱8,725
251.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$214₱13.2K
$89.7₱5,535
137.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$797₱49.2K
$363₱22.4K
119.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$385₱23.8K
$488₱30.1K
-21.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,968₱183.1K
$2,511₱154.9K
18.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,963₱121.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$383₱23.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
6.17
29.66%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Cebu: April 28, 2026
Última actualización para Subic Bay Freeport Zone: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $497 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 $242 vs $220 per month, with Subic Bay Freeport Zone cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Cebu vs Subic Bay Freeport Zone: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Subic Bay Freeport Zone cheaper than Cebu?
Subic Bay Freeport Zone is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,281 in Cebu and $1,120 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.
What is the rent difference between Cebu and Subic Bay Freeport Zone?
Rent for a central apartment: $497 in Cebu versus $141 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu vs Subic Bay Freeport Zone?
All in, you'll spend $854 per month in Cebu versus $747 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone – a 14% 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 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.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Cebu or Subic Bay Freeport Zone?
At $747 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone versus $854 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.
Is Cebu or Subic Bay Freeport Zone more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Subic Bay Freeport Zone?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Subic Bay Freeport Zone gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.