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: $867 in Cebu versus $775 in Surigao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,349 in Cebu versus $1,187 in Surigao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,832 in Cebu versus $1,600 in Surigao.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 36% lower, Surigao 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.40 ₱267

$3.64 ₱221

20.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.84 ₱1,448

$17.81 ₱1,082

33.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.50 ₱273

$3.23 ₱196

39.32%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱161

$2.34 ₱142

13.25%

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

$0.80 ₱48.45

$0.83 ₱50.1

-3.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱25.44

$0.36 ₱22.14

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 ₱91.8

$1.29 ₱78.4

17.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$2.09 ₱127

2.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₱135

$1.84 ₱112

20.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ₱92.9

$1.26 ₱76.8

21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱68.3

$0.99 ₱60.1

13.13%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱140

$1.99 ₱121

16.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 ₱793

$7.79 ₱473

67.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.38 ₱327

$4.35 ₱264

23.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.76 ₱471

$7.80 ₱474

-0.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.63 ₱220

$2.95 ₱179

23.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 ₱91.1

$1.52 ₱92.5

-1.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.42 ₱207

$2.67 ₱162

28.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱132

$1.62 ₱98.6

33.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 ₱154

$2.22 ₱135

13.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 ₱148

$2.50 ₱152

-2.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₱60.8

$1.11 ₱67.2

-9.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.14

$0.72 ₱43.62

9.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₱198

$2.77 ₱168

17.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.30 ₱383

$8.34 ₱507

-24.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₱69.7

$1.21 ₱73.6

-4.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 ₱140

$2.02 ₱123

13.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.03

$0.26 ₱15.70

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.06 ₱914

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱50.5

$0.78 ₱47.16

6.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱13.85

$0.22 ₱13.29

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 ₱165

$2.08 ₱126

30.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱66.3

$1.13 ₱68.8

-3.54%

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

$30.5K ₱1.9M

$26.7K ₱1.6M

14.05%

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

$27.1K ₱1.6M

$20.3K ₱1.2M

33.87%

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

$97.2 ₱5,900

$113 ₱6,859

-13.98%

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

$34.37 ₱2,087

$24.53 ₱1,490

40.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.15 ₱1,831

$38.25 ₱2,323

-21.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.14 ₱2,012

$33.98 ₱2,063

-2.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.25 ₱501

$4.44 ₱270

85.81%

Cinema Ticket

$5.84 ₱355

$5.88 ₱357

-0.68%

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

$228 ₱13.8K

$151 ₱9,153

51.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,923 ₱238.2K

$4,274 ₱259.5K

-8.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 ₱3,140

$45.18 ₱2,743

14.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.99 ₱1,396

$26.43 ₱1,605

-13.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.2 ₱4,567

$75.6 ₱4,588

-0.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.4 ₱3,422

$53.6 ₱3,252

5.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$511 ₱31.0K

$271 ₱16.5K

88.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 ₱12.7K

$176 ₱10.7K

18.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$787 ₱47.8K

$593 ₱36.0K

32.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 ₱23.7K

$397 ₱24.1K

-1.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,948 ₱179.0K

$2,455 ₱149.1K

20.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,906 ₱115.7K

$988 ₱60.0K

92.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$378 ₱23.0K

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Surigao: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $511 in Cebu and $271 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 $206 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,300 in Cebu and $1,162 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: $511 in Cebu versus $271 in Surigao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $867 per month in Cebu versus $775 in Surigao – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $775 in Surigao versus $867 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.