Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Koh Phi Phi and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $1,930 in Koh Phi Phi, rent and utilities included – about $12,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Koh Phi Phi
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,930
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Koh Phi Phi 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 Koh Phi Phi and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,930 in Koh Phi Phi versus $934 in Cebu.

  • Koh Phi Phi $1,930
  • Cebu $934

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,266 in Koh Phi Phi versus $1,415 in Cebu.

  • Koh Phi Phi $3,266
  • Cebu $1,415

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,603 in Koh Phi Phi versus $1,896 in Cebu.

  • Koh Phi Phi $4,603
  • Cebu $1,896

Living in Koh Phi Phi is roughly 107% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Koh Phi Phi is 44% above, Cebu is 30% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Koh Phi Phi
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.82 ฿228
$3.03 ₱190
125.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.47 ฿1,623
$23.48 ₱1,473
106.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.83 ฿430
$4.09 ₱256
213.69%
Cappuccino
$4.10 ฿137
$2.52 ₱158
62.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 ฿45.48
$1.54 ₱96.9
-11.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.55
$0.49 ₱30.98
48.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.84 ฿129
$1.79 ₱112
114.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54 ฿186
$2.26 ₱142
145.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Koh Phi Phi
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.00 ฿67.1
$1.95 ₱122
2.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.72 ฿57.6
$1.43 ₱89.7
20.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ฿63.0
$1.02 ₱63.8
84.31%
Eggs
$2.52 ฿84.5
$2.06 ₱129
22.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.69 ฿793
$9.81 ₱615
141.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 ฿136
$4.61 ₱289
-12.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.17 ฿441
$7.70 ₱483
71.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.50 ฿117
$3.31 ₱207
5.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 ฿65.3
$1.45 ₱90.9
34.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.71 ฿90.7
$2.36 ₱148
14.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 ฿85.5
$1.54 ₱96.4
65.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 ฿61.0
$2.36 ₱148
-22.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.65 ฿55.3
$1.99 ₱125
-17.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.29 ฿43.10
$1.15 ₱72.1
12.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 ฿20.78
$0.67 ₱42.15
-7.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.08 ฿170
$3.00 ₱188
69.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.86 ฿732
$6.35 ₱398
244.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$1.31 ₱81.9
62.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 ฿114
$1.73 ₱108
96.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Koh Phi Phi
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.05 ฿102
$0.25 ₱15.78
1120.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$12.65 ₱793
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.13 ฿138
$0.74 ₱46.32
458.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 ฿49.50
$0.21 ₱13.11
604.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.21 ฿174
$4.33 ₱271
20.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 ฿67.3
$1.33 ₱83.5
51.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.6K ฿1.3M
$21.8K ₱1.4M
72.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9K ฿1.3M
$19.4K ₱1.2M
95.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koh Phi Phi
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$106 ฿3,556
$121 ₱7,563
-11.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.39 ฿415
$14.45 ₱907
-14.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.02 ฿637
$28.29 ₱1,774
-32.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Koh Phi Phi
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.1 ฿2,080
$32.68 ₱2,050
90.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.26 ฿444
$6.39 ₱401
107.51%
Cinema Ticket
$9.25 ฿310
$5.46 ₱342
69.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koh Phi Phi
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$665 ฿22.3K
$273 ₱17.1K
143.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.0K ฿467.7K
$8,156 ₱511.5K
71.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Koh Phi Phi
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.3 ฿2,252
$49.57 ₱3,109
35.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.94 ฿1,002
$24.87 ₱1,560
20.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 ฿3,358
$76.6 ₱4,804
30.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.7 ฿3,037
$59.3 ₱3,717
53.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koh Phi Phi
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,569 ฿52.5K
$506 ₱31.7K
210.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,007 ฿33.7K
$309 ₱19.4K
225.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,640 ฿155.3K
$1,052 ₱66.0K
341.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,698 ฿90.3K
$619 ₱38.8K
335.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,572 ฿253.5K
$2,915 ₱182.9K
159.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,505 ฿184.3K
$1,867 ₱117.1K
194.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Koh Phi Phi
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$341 ₱21.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
7.2
-22.64%

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

Last update for Koh Phi Phi: October 5, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Koh Phi Phi
$1K
Cebu
$309 69.3% $697
Groceries & Markets
Koh Phi Phi
$321
Cebu
$210 34.5% $111
Eating Out
Koh Phi Phi
$181
Cebu
$88 51.1% $92
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koh Phi Phi
$138
Cebu
$163 18.7% $26
Clothing & Footwear
Koh Phi Phi
$130
Cebu
$95 27% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Koh Phi Phi
$81
Cebu
$44 45.9% $37
Getting Around
Koh Phi Phi
$24 *
Cebu
$15 34.9% $8.3

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,569 in Koh Phi Phi and $506 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $48.00 in Koh Phi Phi vs $23.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $210 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Koh Phi Phi
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
10:07 10:07 AM
11:07 11:07 AM
1 h ahead of Koh Phi Phi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,500
964,169
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.55 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.35 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Koh Phi Phi Cebu 2,770 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Koh Phi Phi
  • 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
Koh Phi Phi vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Koh Phi Phi?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 107% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,894 in Koh Phi Phi and $1,401 in Cebu 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.
What is the rent difference between Koh Phi Phi and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,569 in Koh Phi Phi versus $506 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Koh Phi Phi and in Cebu?
Supermarket bills run roughly 53% higher in Koh Phi Phi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Koh Phi Phi and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $1,930 per month in Koh Phi Phi versus $934 in Cebu – a 107% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Koh Phi Phi or in Cebu?
At $934 in Cebu versus $1,930 in Koh Phi Phi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Koh Phi Phi. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Koh Phi Phi or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Koh Phi Phi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Koh Phi Phi or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Koh Phi Phi 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 107% less than in Koh Phi Phi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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