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.

Maldives
Cebu, Philippines
🇲🇻 Maldives
$1,466
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$943
/mo nomad
😐 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.
Currency
🍽 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
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.45 MVR 146
-
-
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)
-
$1.76 ₱111
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.15 ₱136
-
🛒 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
-
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
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.08 MVR 233
$2.89 ₱182
421.80%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$6.35 ₱400
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.27 ₱80.1
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.64 ₱103
-
🚌 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.
Accommodation & Living
Maldives
$665
Cebu
$322 51.6% $343
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maldives
$229
Cebu
$168 26.7% $61
Groceries & Markets
Maldives
$219
Cebu
$206 6% $13
Eating Out
Maldives
$129
Cebu
$95 26.5% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Maldives
$101
Cebu
$93 7.5% $7.6
Sport & Entertainment
Maldives
$81
Cebu
$45 44.1% $36
Getting Around
Maldives
$43
Cebu
$15 64.8% $28
Good to know
🇲🇻 Maldives
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
05:50 5:50 AM
08:50 8:50 AM
3 h ahead of the Maldives
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
436,330
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to MVR – Maldivian Rufiyaa Converter

Maldivian Rufiyaa exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 15.42 MVR (100 MVR = 6.49 USD). 1 EUR = 17.31 MVR (100 MVR = 5.78 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 62.97 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.68 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
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

Maldives vs other spots: cost of living compared

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