Last update: Nov 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between the Maldives and Cebu
For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $943 a month against $1,466 in the Maldives, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Maldives Living Index71Cost of Living Index in the MaldivesLearn more -
Cebu Living Index45Cost of Living Index in CebuLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: The Maldives is 34.6% more expensive than Cebu without rent, and 55.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The Maldives is 41.6% more expensive than Cebu without rent, and 70.3% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Maldives
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.56 MVR 101
$3.88 ₱244
69.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9 MVR 784
$23.22 ₱1,462
118.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.80 MVR 151
$3.90 ₱246
151.28%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.81 MVR 74.2
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Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.45 MVR 146
-
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Cappuccino
$3.32 MVR 51.1
$2.56 ₱161
29.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 MVR 24.24
$1.60 ₱101
-1.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 MVR 4.62
$0.51 ₱32.03
-41.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
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$1.76 ₱111
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Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.15 ₱136
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🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maldives
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 MVR 28.06
$1.99 ₱125
-8.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 MVR 24.62
$1.37 ₱86.3
16.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 MVR 19.64
$0.95 ₱59.9
33.68%
Eggs
$1.81 MVR 27.98
$2.02 ₱127
-10.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.35 MVR 97.9
$9.63 ₱606
-34.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 MVR 99.9
$4.35 ₱274
48.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.11 MVR 156
$7.70 ₱485
31.30%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 MVR 61.3
$3.30 ₱207
20.61%
Banana (1kg)
$2.88 MVR 44.39
$1.27 ₱79.7
126.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.83 MVR 59.1
$2.34 ₱148
63.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.50 MVR 38.62
$1.51 ₱95.4
65.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 MVR 30.40
$2.23 ₱141
-11.66%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 MVR 28.98
$1.93 ₱122
-2.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 MVR 30.75
$1.18 ₱74.4
68.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 MVR 9.95
$0.65 ₱40.93
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Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$11.26 MVR 174
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 MVR 38.02
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62 MVR 71.3
-
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Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.08 MVR 233
$2.89 ₱182
421.80%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$6.35 ₱400
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Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.27 ₱80.1
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.64 ₱103
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🚌 Getting Around
Maldives
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 MVR 9.66
$0.23 ₱14.42
173.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.53 MVR 440
$12.24 ₱771
133.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.99 MVR 30.63
$0.82 ₱51.5
142.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 MVR 29.46
$0.20 ₱12.56
855.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.20 MVR 157
$4.32 ₱272
136.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 MVR 15.87
$1.38 ₱86.7
-25.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K MVR 354.7K
$21.2K ₱1.3M
8.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K MVR 405.4K
$19.3K ₱1.2M
36.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maldives
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$132 MVR 2,029
$124 ₱7,816
5.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.97 MVR 447
$15.93 ₱1,003
81.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.9 MVR 1,063
$28.07 ₱1,768
145.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maldives
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.3 MVR 961
$33.41 ₱2,104
86.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.33 MVR 329
$6.40 ₱403
233.28%
Cinema Ticket
$9.21 MVR 142
$5.85 ₱368
57.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maldives
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$176 MVR 2,716
$271 ₱17.0K
-34.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,713 MVR 72.7K
$8,060 ₱507.5K
-41.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maldives
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.35 MVR 576
$48.31 ₱3,042
-22.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.01 MVR 756
$24.56 ₱1,546
99.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.3 MVR 1,315
$77.1 ₱4,856
10.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.7 MVR 797
$56.5 ₱3,558
-8.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maldives
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$933 MVR 14.4K
$495 ₱31.2K
88.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 MVR 10.2K
$322 ₱20.3K
106.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,898 MVR 29.3K
$990 ₱62.4K
91.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,488 MVR 22.9K
$628 ₱39.6K
136.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,602 MVR 40.1K
$4,459 ₱280.7K
-41.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$774 MVR 11.9K
$3,030 ₱190.8K
-74.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maldives
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$756 MVR 11.7K
$343 ₱21.6K
120.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14
7.2
94.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the Maldives: November 2, 2026
Last update for Cebu: November 2, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Maldives $665 45.4%
Cebu $322 34.1% 51.6% $343
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maldives $229 15.7%
Cebu $168 17.8% 26.7% $61
Groceries & Markets
Maldives $219 14.9%
Cebu $206 21.8% 6% $13
Eating Out
Maldives $129 8.8%
Cebu $95 10.1% 26.5% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Maldives $101 6.9%
Cebu $93 9.9% 7.5% $7.6
Sport & Entertainment
Maldives $81 5.5%
Cebu $45 4.8% 44.1% $36
Getting Around
Maldives $43 2.9%
Cebu $15 1.6% 64.8% $28
Accommodation & Living
Maldives $1.5K 45.3%
Cebu $628 32.6% 57.8% $860
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maldives $258 7.9%
Cebu $184 9.5% 28.8% $74
Groceries & Markets
Maldives $536 16.3%
Cebu $482 25% 10.1% $54
Eating Out
Maldives $512 15.6%
Cebu $302 15.7% 41% $210
Clothing & Footwear
Maldives $223 6.8%
Cebu $207 10.7% 7.5% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Maldives $183 5.6%
Cebu $97 5% 47.2% $86
Getting Around
Maldives $86 2.6%
Cebu $30 1.6% 64.8% $56
Good to know
🇲🇻 Maldives
🇵🇭 Cebu
Weather
Population
436,330
964,169
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Maldives Cebu 5,590 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
- Maldives
- 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
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