Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Zamboanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Zamboanga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $924 in Cebu versus $744 in Zamboanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,414 in Cebu versus $1,128 in Zamboanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,905 in Cebu versus $1,511 in Zamboanga.

Living in Cebu is roughly 24% more expensive than in Zamboanga, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 33% lower, Zamboanga 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 ₱192

$1.33 ₱83.5

130.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.18 ₱1,453

$16.92 ₱1,061

37.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.04 ₱253

$3.50 ₱220

15.43%

Cappuccino

$2.49 ₱156

$2.03 ₱127

22.66%

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

$1.52 ₱95.3

$0.93 ₱58.6

63.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱30.70

$0.41 ₱25.43

19.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 ₱113

$1.47 ₱92.0

22.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₱144

$2.07 ₱130

10.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱121

$1.77 ₱111

8.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 ₱87.3

$1.43 ₱89.8

-2.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.6

$1.11 ₱69.7

-9.01%

Eggs

$2.03 ₱127

$1.49 ₱93.4

36.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.87 ₱619

$10.16 ₱637

-2.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱283

$4.10 ₱257

10.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.59 ₱476

$3.31 ₱207

129.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 ₱209

$3.08 ₱193

8.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 ₱87.7

$1.21 ₱75.9

15.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱151

$3.89 ₱244

-38.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ₱97.1

$1.19 ₱74.4

30.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 ₱154

$1.21 ₱75.7

103.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ₱120

$2.50 ₱156

-23.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 ₱76.9

$0.84 ₱52.5

46.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₱38.80

$0.51 ₱32.09

21.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ₱180

$2.74 ₱172

4.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.30 ₱395

$4.29 ₱269

46.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 ₱81.2

$1.31 ₱82.4

-0.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 ₱110

$2.05 ₱129

-14.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.30

$0.22 ₱13.79

4.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.66 ₱794

$11.23 ₱704

12.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₱46.79

$0.82 ₱51.2

-8.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.42

$0.23 ₱14.35

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.33 ₱272

$1.97 ₱123

119.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ₱79.3

$1.03 ₱64.4

22.33%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.5K ₱1.3M

-1.64%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

$19.8K ₱1.2M

-0.72%

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

$121 ₱7,586

$121 ₱7,603

-0.23%

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

$15.07 ₱944

$15.03 ₱942

0.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.29 ₱1,711

$48.66 ₱3,051

-43.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.26 ₱2,022

$35.46 ₱2,223

-9.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.38 ₱400

$4.85 ₱304

31.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.63 ₱353

$5.28 ₱331

6.63%

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

$281 ₱17.6K

$133 ₱8,313

111.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,117 ₱508.9K

$7,917 ₱496.3K

2.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.04 ₱3,074

$32.69 ₱2,050

50.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.72 ₱1,550

$19.36 ₱1,214

27.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 ₱4,886

$72.4 ₱4,541

7.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.3 ₱3,656

$56.2 ₱3,523

3.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$503 ₱31.5K

$264 ₱16.6K

90.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₱19.2K

$175 ₱11.0K

74.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 ₱68.1K

$338 ₱21.2K

221.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₱39.6K

$349 ₱21.9K

81.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,868 ₱179.8K

$2,646 ₱165.9K

8.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,891 ₱118.5K

$1,057 ₱66.2K

78.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.7K

$191 ₱12.0K

81.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

6.75

6.67%

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

Last update for Cebu: September 7, 2026

Last update for Zamboanga: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $503 in Cebu and $264 in Zamboanga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 81% 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: $23.00 in Cebu vs $17.00 in Zamboanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $185 per month, with Zamboanga 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 Zamboanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zamboanga is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 81% higher in Cebu, 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: $503 in Cebu versus $264 in Zamboanga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $924 per month in Cebu versus $744 in Zamboanga – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Zamboanga runs roughly 13% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $744 in Zamboanga versus $924 in Cebu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zamboanga but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Zamboanga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Zamboanga 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 Zamboanga 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 Zamboanga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.