Cost of Living Comparison Between Dagupan and Cebu Cost of Living Comparison Between Dagupan and Cebu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $753 in Dagupan versus $936 in Cebu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,106 in Dagupan versus $1,427 in Cebu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,458 in Dagupan versus $1,918 in Cebu.

Living in Dagupan costs roughly 20% less than in Cebu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dagupan 45% lower, Cebu 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.82 ₱176

$3.09 ₱193

-8.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.88 ₱744

$23.80 ₱1,490

-50.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.51 ₱282

$4.10 ₱257

10.00%

Cappuccino

$2.49 ₱156

$2.60 ₱163

-4.23%

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

$0.47 ₱29.40

$1.55 ₱97.0

-69.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₱15.68

$0.54 ₱33.49

-53.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ₱76.5

$1.73 ₱108

-29.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 ₱168

$2.19 ₱137

22.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₱114

$1.92 ₱120

-5.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 ₱77.8

$1.39 ₱87.2

-10.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ₱56.7

$0.97 ₱60.9

-6.19%

Eggs

$1.94 ₱121

$2.00 ₱125

-3.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.65 ₱354

$9.93 ₱621

-43.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱309

$4.38 ₱274

12.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.20 ₱451

$7.41 ₱464

-2.83%

Apples (1kg)

$4.19 ₱262

$3.46 ₱217

21.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 ₱126

$1.47 ₱91.8

36.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 ₱175

$2.41 ₱151

15.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 ₱74.3

$1.54 ₱96.6

-22.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 ₱179

$2.36 ₱148

21.19%

Onion (1kg)

$3.60 ₱226

$1.91 ₱120

88.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱68.9

$1.24 ₱77.4

-11.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱36.44

$0.66 ₱41.47

-12.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 ₱146

$3.00 ₱188

-22.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.46 ₱342

$6.08 ₱381

-10.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ₱56.2

$1.31 ₱81.9

-31.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₱119

$1.73 ₱108

9.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.77

$0.25 ₱15.66

-12.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.73 ₱797

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.12

$0.75 ₱46.83

-18.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.12

$0.23 ₱14.43

-8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 ₱121

$4.60 ₱288

-58.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ₱66.8

$1.34 ₱83.8

-20.15%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.8K ₱1.4M

-0.13%

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

$19.8K ₱1.2M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

1.71%

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

$102 ₱6,395

$121 ₱7,572

-15.54%

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

$16.41 ₱1,027

$14.86 ₱930

10.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.48 ₱1,657

$27.84 ₱1,743

-4.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.14 ₱2,074

$32.06 ₱2,007

3.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.43 ₱403

Cinema Ticket

$4.99 ₱313

$5.64 ₱353

-11.52%

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

$789 ₱49.4K

$273 ₱17.1K

188.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,552 ₱472.7K

$8,017 ₱501.9K

-5.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 ₱3,822

$48.77 ₱3,053

25.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.89 ₱494

$25.49 ₱1,595

-69.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.7 ₱5,176

$78.1 ₱4,889

5.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,509

$57.8 ₱3,620

79.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 ₱12.2K

$500 ₱31.3K

-60.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 ₱9,863

$300 ₱18.8K

-47.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$357 ₱22.3K

$1,089 ₱68.1K

-67.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.5K

$632 ₱39.6K

-58.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,888 ₱180.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$488 ₱30.5K

$1,877 ₱117.5K

-74.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$242 ₱15.2K

$346 ₱21.7K

-30.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

7.2

4.17%

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

Last update for Dagupan: August 30, 2026

Last update for Cebu: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $195 in Dagupan and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 43% 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: $12.00 in Dagupan vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $208 per month, with Dagupan 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

Dagupan vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, salaries run 43% lower in Cebu. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $195 in Dagupan versus $500 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $753 per month in Dagupan versus $936 in Cebu – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $753 in Dagupan versus $936 in Cebu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dagupan but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Dagupan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Dagupan 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, Dagupan and Cebu 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 Dagupan 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.