Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Surigao Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Surigao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $879 in Cebu versus $785 in Surigao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,347 in Cebu versus $1,209 in Surigao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,815 in Cebu versus $1,632 in Surigao.

Living in Cebu is roughly 12% more expensive than in Surigao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 34% lower, Surigao 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.34 ₱266

$3.59 ₱221

20.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.95 ₱1,471

$17.60 ₱1,081

36.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.48 ₱275

$3.27 ₱201

37.00%

Cappuccino

$2.58 ₱158

$2.45 ₱151

5.31%

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

$0.78 ₱48.05

$0.78 ₱48.18

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.79

$0.37 ₱22.53

21.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱93.3

$1.31 ₱80.2

16.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱132

$2.18 ₱134

-1.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 ₱142

$1.92 ₱118

20.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ₱93.6

$1.21 ₱74.2

26.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.1

$0.99 ₱61.1

18.18%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱145

$2.07 ₱127

13.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 ₱778

$7.88 ₱484

60.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 ₱323

$4.19 ₱257

25.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 ₱484

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱214

$2.97 ₱182

17.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ₱89.8

$1.55 ₱95.1

-5.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.32 ₱204

$2.63 ₱161

26.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 ₱140

$1.57 ₱96.4

44.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 ₱163

$2.32 ₱142

14.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.56 ₱157

-4.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ₱56.9

$1.10 ₱67.8

-15.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.64

$0.71 ₱43.39

11.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 ₱192

$2.82 ₱173

10.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.37 ₱391

$6.94 ₱426

-8.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₱73.2

$1.15 ₱70.4

3.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱138

$1.95 ₱120

15.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.96

$0.26 ₱15.85

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.85 ₱912

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.3

$0.77 ₱47.09

12.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.09

$0.22 ₱13.46

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 ₱166

$2.19 ₱135

23.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.0

$1.14 ₱70.0

-2.63%

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

$30.0K ₱1.8M

$26.7K ₱1.6M

12.54%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

29.90%

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

$96.9 ₱5,947

$113 ₱6,919

-14.05%

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

$34.35 ₱2,109

$24.86 ₱1,526

38.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 ₱1,820

$39.24 ₱2,409

-24.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.03 ₱2,028

$33.64 ₱2,066

-1.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.50 ₱522

$4.32 ₱265

96.76%

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ₱358

$5.96 ₱366

-2.35%

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

$227 ₱13.9K

$149 ₱9,133

52.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,968 ₱243.7K

$4,316 ₱265.0K

-8.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 ₱3,273

$46.26 ₱2,840

15.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.14 ₱1,421

$26.79 ₱1,645

-13.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 ₱4,584

$75.6 ₱4,642

-1.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 ₱3,346

$53.6 ₱3,292

1.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₱31.6K

$261 ₱16.0K

97.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 ₱13.3K

$176 ₱10.8K

23.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$785 ₱48.2K

$595 ₱36.5K

31.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 ₱23.8K

$398 ₱24.4K

-2.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,908 ₱178.5K

$2,081 ₱127.8K

39.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,911 ₱117.3K

$891 ₱54.7K

114.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

19.94%

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

Last update for Cebu: July 27, 2026

Last update for Surigao: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Cebu and $261 in Surigao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $18.00 in Surigao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $203 per month, with Surigao 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 Surigao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Surigao is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,318 in Cebu and $1,178 in Surigao 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 $261 in Surigao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $879 per month in Cebu versus $785 in Surigao – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $785 in Surigao versus $879 in Cebu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Surigao but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Surigao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Surigao 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 Surigao 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 Surigao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.