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: $854 in Cebu versus $699 in Vigan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,318 in Cebu versus $1,108 in Vigan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,782 in Cebu versus $1,517 in Vigan.

Living in Cebu is roughly 22% more expensive than Vigan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 36% lower, Vigan 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.40 ₱271

$3.62 ₱223

21.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.98 ₱1,479

$13.46 ₱830

78.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$1.74 ₱107

160.92%

Cappuccino

$2.53 ₱156

$1.74 ₱107

45.40%

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

$0.85 ₱52.6

$0.70 ₱43.02

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.85

$0.37 ₱22.89

21.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱93.6

$1.21 ₱74.8

25.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.74 ₱108

25.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 ₱142

$1.83 ₱113

25.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ₱96.8

$1.24 ₱76.4

26.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ₱71.2

$0.72 ₱44.45

59.72%

Eggs

$2.36 ₱146

$2.24 ₱138

5.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 ₱804

$9.06 ₱559

43.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.10 ₱314

$3.72 ₱229

37.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 ₱490

$7.62 ₱470

4.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 ₱215

$2.77 ₱171

25.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₱92.9

$1.63 ₱101

-7.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$2.38 ₱147

38.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.22 ₱75.0

79.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.63 ₱100

60.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.16 ₱133

13.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.9

$0.68 ₱41.75

35.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.4

$0.72 ₱44.55

15.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.27 ₱202

$2.23 ₱138

46.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 ₱416

$9.23 ₱570

-26.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.7

$1.04 ₱63.9

16.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱140

$1.80 ₱111

26.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.37

$0.28 ₱17.47

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.14 ₱934

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.6

$0.69 ₱42.55

26.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.50

$0.15 ₱8.99

66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.45 ₱151

6.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱70.3

$1.10 ₱67.8

3.64%

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

$29.6K ₱1.8M

$14.4K ₱891.1K

104.73%

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

$27.0K ₱1.7M

$15.6K ₱964.5K

72.86%

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

$95.2 ₱5,870

$52.7 ₱3,249

80.69%

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

$33.67 ₱2,077

$34.59 ₱2,133

-2.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.79 ₱1,837

$26.31 ₱1,623

13.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.90 ₱2,029

$34.26 ₱2,113

-3.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.16 ₱503

$4.48 ₱276

82.14%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱357

$5.85 ₱361

-1.03%

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

$232 ₱14.3K

$35.66 ₱2,199

550.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,860 ₱238.1K

$4,790 ₱295.5K

-19.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 ₱3,214

$49.07 ₱3,027

6.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.82 ₱1,407

$27.97 ₱1,725

-18.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ₱4,736

$61.7 ₱3,803

24.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.3 ₱3,351

$45.64 ₱2,815

19.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 ₱30.6K

$268 ₱16.5K

85.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 ₱13.2K

$177 ₱10.9K

20.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ₱49.2K

$594 ₱36.6K

34.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₱23.8K

$396 ₱24.4K

-2.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,968 ₱183.1K

$2,388 ₱147.3K

24.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,963 ₱121.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$383 ₱23.6K

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Vigan: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $497 in Cebu and $268 in Vigan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $13.00 in Vigan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $198 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 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,281 in Cebu and $1,048 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: $497 in Cebu versus $268 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 $854 per month in Cebu versus $699 in Vigan – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $699 in Vigan versus $854 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 22% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.