Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Tuguegarao Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Tuguegarao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $873 in Cebu versus $631 in Tuguegarao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,326 in Cebu versus $1,012 in Tuguegarao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,778 in Cebu versus $1,393 in Tuguegarao.

Living in Cebu is roughly 38% more expensive than Tuguegarao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 35% lower, Tuguegarao 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.33 ₱267

$1.74 ₱107

148.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.14 ₱1,490

$13.16 ₱812

83.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.36 ₱269

$2.60 ₱160

67.69%

Cappuccino

$2.57 ₱159

$2.34 ₱144

9.83%

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

$0.84 ₱52.1

$0.51 ₱31.67

64.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱26.38

$0.33 ₱20.48

30.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱94.6

$1.38 ₱85.3

10.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.93 ₱119

9.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 ₱137

$1.82 ₱112

21.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ₱92.7

$1.25 ₱77.2

20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.8

$0.81 ₱50.1

37.04%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.27 ₱140

2.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 ₱804

$6.43 ₱397

102.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ₱330

$3.77 ₱233

41.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₱463

$8.62 ₱532

-12.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 ₱220

$2.74 ₱169

30.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱89.5

$1.79 ₱111

-18.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 ₱209

$2.39 ₱147

41.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 ₱134

$1.17 ₱72.1

86.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.59 ₱160

$1.81 ₱112

43.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.48 ₱153

$2.29 ₱141

8.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.7

$0.72 ₱44.71

27.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.99

$0.71 ₱43.73

11.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.11 ₱192

$2.18 ₱134

42.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.52 ₱402

$8.81 ₱543

-25.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.5

$1.07 ₱66.2

13.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$2.25 ₱139

3.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.42

$0.26 ₱15.94

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.00 ₱925

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱51.6

$0.93 ₱57.3

-9.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.46

$0.24 ₱14.90

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 ₱166

$2.35 ₱145

14.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.1

$1.14 ₱70.6

-4.39%

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

$30.1K ₱1.9M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-5.48%

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

$27.0K ₱1.7M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

32.64%

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

$95.4 ₱5,884

$35.99 ₱2,221

164.96%

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

$33.83 ₱2,088

$17.56 ₱1,084

92.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.78 ₱1,838

$26.12 ₱1,612

14.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.91 ₱2,031

$33.28 ₱2,053

-1.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.43 ₱520

$4.46 ₱275

89.01%

Cinema Ticket

$5.84 ₱360

$5.89 ₱364

-0.85%

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

$233 ₱14.4K

$150 ₱9,269

54.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,894 ₱240.3K

$4,809 ₱296.7K

-19.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ₱3,299

$49.65 ₱3,064

7.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.75 ₱1,404

$27.18 ₱1,677

-16.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 ₱4,732

$45.03 ₱2,779

70.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 ₱3,362

$27.05 ₱1,669

101.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₱31.8K

$261 ₱16.1K

97.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 ₱12.9K

$179 ₱11.0K

16.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 ₱49.7K

$578 ₱35.7K

39.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱24.5K

$399 ₱24.6K

-0.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,955 ₱182.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,923 ₱118.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$364 ₱22.5K

$212 ₱13.1K

72.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

77.78%

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

Last update for Cebu: June 2, 2026

Last update for Tuguegarao: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Cebu pays 72% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $13.00 in Tuguegarao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $196 per month, with Tuguegarao 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 Tuguegarao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tuguegarao is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Cebu pays 72% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $515 in Cebu versus $261 in Tuguegarao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $873 per month in Cebu versus $631 in Tuguegarao – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $631 in Tuguegarao versus $873 in Cebu, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tuguegarao but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Tuguegarao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Tuguegarao 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 Tuguegarao 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 Tuguegarao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.