Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Goulburn and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $2,474 in Goulburn, rent and utilities included – about $18,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Goulburn
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,474
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Goulburn and in Cebu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Goulburn and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,474 in Goulburn versus $918 in Cebu.

  • Goulburn $2,474
  • Cebu $918

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,599 in Goulburn versus $1,409 in Cebu.

  • Goulburn $3,599
  • Cebu $1,409

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,725 in Goulburn versus $1,900 in Cebu.

  • Goulburn $4,725
  • Cebu $1,900

Living in Goulburn is roughly 170% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Goulburn is 83% above, Cebu is 32% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Goulburn
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.65 A$25.39
$3.09 ₱194
471.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.7 A$129
$24.22 ₱1,525
270.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.58 A$12.35
$3.92 ₱247
118.88%
Cappuccino
$3.17 A$4.57
$2.51 ₱158
26.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 A$4.10
$1.59 ₱100
79.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 A$3.21
$0.53 ₱33.43
320.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.56 A$10.89
$1.78 ₱112
324.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.15 A$10.29
$2.17 ₱137
229.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Goulburn
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 A$1.43
$1.92 ₱121
-48.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.69 A$2.44
$1.36 ₱85.4
24.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 A$3.21
$1.01 ₱63.5
120.79%
Eggs
$5.11 A$7.35
$2.03 ₱128
151.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.04 A$17.33
$9.86 ₱621
22.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.04 A$13.01
$4.39 ₱277
105.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.55 A$23.81
$7.60 ₱479
117.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.08 A$4.43
$3.30 ₱208
-6.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 A$2.48
$1.39 ₱87.8
24.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 A$2.55
$2.33 ₱147
-24.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.43 A$4.93
$1.50 ₱94.3
128.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.48 A$3.57
$2.36 ₱149
5.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 A$1.93
$1.90 ₱119
-29.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 A$2.04
$1.19 ₱74.9
19.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 A$1.47
$0.63 ₱39.71
61.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$44.56 A$64.1
$3.00 ₱189
1385.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.12 A$11.68
$6.03 ₱379
34.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.08 A$5.87
$1.23 ₱77.7
231.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93 A$5.65
$1.75 ₱110
124.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Goulburn
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.51 A$3.62
$0.25 ₱15.86
904.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.9 A$115
$12.64 ₱796
532.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.82 A$4.06
$0.77 ₱48.62
266.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 A$2.27
$0.23 ₱14.53
586.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.05 A$57.6
$4.46 ₱281
797.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 A$2.08
$1.31 ₱82.8
9.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K A$41.9K
$21.2K ₱1.3M
37.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3K A$42.1K
$19.1K ₱1.2M
52.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Goulburn
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$106 A$152
$120 ₱7,569
-12.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.03 A$38.90
$14.00 ₱882
93.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.5 A$81.3
$27.54 ₱1,734
105.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Goulburn
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.2 A$88.1
$32.33 ₱2,035
89.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.67 A$23.98
$6.65 ₱419
150.68%
Cinema Ticket
$8.10 A$11.66
$5.65 ₱356
43.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Goulburn
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,202 A$3,168
$275 ₱17.3K
699.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.7K A$41.3K
$7,918 ₱498.5K
262.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Goulburn
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.3 A$111
$49.33 ₱3,106
56.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.8 A$102
$25.24 ₱1,589
180.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 A$162
$77.0 ₱4,846
46.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 A$190
$57.2 ₱3,601
131.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Goulburn
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,365 A$1,964
$500 ₱31.5K
173.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,343 A$1,932
$309 ₱19.4K
334.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,029 A$2,919
$1,078 ₱67.9K
88.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,019 A$2,905
$615 ₱38.7K
228.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,255 A$7,563
$2,886 ₱181.7K
82.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,288 A$6,171
$1,917 ₱120.7K
123.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Goulburn
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,998 A$5,753
$346 ₱21.8K
1055.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.84
7.2
-18.89%

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

Last update for Goulburn: October 13, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Goulburn
$1.3K
Cebu
$309 77% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Goulburn
$310
Cebu
$206 33.5% $104
Eating Out
Goulburn
$277
Cebu
$88 68.2% $189
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Goulburn
$189
Cebu
$162 14.5% $27
Clothing & Footwear
Goulburn
$177
Cebu
$94 46.9% $83
Getting Around
Goulburn
$101
Cebu
$16 84.5% $85
Sport & Entertainment
Goulburn
$77
Cebu
$44 43.7% $34

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,365 in Goulburn and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Goulburn pays 1056% 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: $90.0 in Goulburn vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $310 vs $206 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Goulburn
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
05:57 5:57 AM
02:57 2:57 AM
3 h behind Goulburn
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
23,963
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.79 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Goulburn Cebu 5,700 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Goulburn
  • Cebu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Goulburn vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Goulburn?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 170% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Goulburn or Cebu?
Average pay runs 1056% higher in Goulburn, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Goulburn and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,365 in Goulburn versus $500 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Goulburn and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $2,474 per month in Goulburn versus $918 in Cebu – a 170% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Cebu runs roughly 532% less than in Goulburn. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Goulburn or in Cebu?
At $918 in Cebu versus $2,474 in Goulburn, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Goulburn. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Goulburn or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Goulburn, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Goulburn or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Goulburn 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 170% less than in Goulburn. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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