Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Vigan Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Vigan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Cebu versus $691 in Vigan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,352 in Cebu versus $1,089 in Vigan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Cebu versus $1,487 in Vigan.

Living in Cebu is roughly 26% more expensive than in Vigan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 35% lower, Vigan 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.52 ₱274

$3.50 ₱212

29.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.52 ₱1,484

$13.52 ₱819

81.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱275

$1.82 ₱110

150.00%

Cappuccino

$2.55 ₱154

$1.73 ₱105

47.40%

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

$0.86 ₱52.1

$0.65 ₱39.26

32.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱25.47

$0.41 ₱24.58

2.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 ₱91.6

$1.21 ₱73.2

24.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱130

$1.73 ₱105

23.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 ₱141

$1.89 ₱114

23.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 ₱91.8

$1.25 ₱75.5

21.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.7

$0.71 ₱43.25

57.75%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱140

$2.22 ₱134

4.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.70 ₱769

$9.06 ₱548

40.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱315

$3.71 ₱225

40.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 ₱477

$7.23 ₱438

8.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 ₱212

$2.74 ₱166

27.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱87.9

$1.58 ₱95.9

-8.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.27 ₱198

$2.25 ₱136

45.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.20 ₱133

$1.17 ₱70.8

88.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 ₱156

$1.62 ₱98.0

59.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 ₱156

$2.18 ₱132

18.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ₱56.5

$0.72 ₱43.79

29.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱47.72

$0.72 ₱43.68

9.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱192

$2.26 ₱137

40.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.44 ₱390

$9.39 ₱569

-31.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱72.5

$1.04 ₱62.8

15.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 ₱142

$1.73 ₱105

35.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.13

$0.28 ₱17.14

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.34 ₱929

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱52.9

$0.73 ₱43.92

19.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.24

$0.16 ₱9.54

56.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 ₱163

$2.33 ₱141

15.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱66.4

$1.10 ₱66.8

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

$30.2K ₱1.8M

$14.1K ₱853.9K

114.44%

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

$26.9K ₱1.6M

$15.9K ₱961.2K

69.25%

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

$98.3 ₱5,953

$52.6 ₱3,185

86.92%

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

$34.89 ₱2,112

$34.60 ₱2,094

0.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.76 ₱1,802

$26.45 ₱1,602

12.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.66 ₱1,977

$33.79 ₱2,046

-3.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.43 ₱510

$4.56 ₱276

84.87%

Cinema Ticket

$6.01 ₱364

$5.79 ₱351

3.80%

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

$235 ₱14.3K

$35.13 ₱2,127

570.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,936 ₱238.3K

$4,677 ₱283.1K

-15.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 ₱3,125

$49.04 ₱2,969

5.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.19 ₱1,404

$27.91 ₱1,690

-16.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.3 ₱4,501

$62.1 ₱3,759

19.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.7 ₱3,373

$46.48 ₱2,814

19.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 ₱30.2K

$266 ₱16.1K

87.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 ₱12.7K

$177 ₱10.7K

18.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$783 ₱47.4K

$576 ₱34.8K

36.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 ₱23.4K

$395 ₱23.9K

-2.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,095 ₱187.4K

$2,766 ₱167.4K

11.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,981 ₱119.9K

$984 ₱59.6K

101.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$373 ₱22.6K

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 13, 2026

Last update for Vigan: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $498 in Cebu and $266 in Vigan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Cebu vs $14.00 in Vigan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $197 per month, with Vigan 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 Vigan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vigan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,304 in Cebu and $1,037 in Vigan 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: $498 in Cebu versus $266 in Vigan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $869 per month in Cebu versus $691 in Vigan – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $691 in Vigan versus $869 in Cebu, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Vigan but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Vigan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Vigan 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 Vigan 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 Vigan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.