Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Cebu Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Cebu

😐 Solo nomad: Manila is 1.8% more expensive than Cebu without rent, and 12.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Manila is 1.1% more expensive than Cebu without rent, and 17.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manila
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.37 ₱322
$4.37 ₱262
22.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.02 ₱1,619
$24.24 ₱1,452
11.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.46 ₱267
$4.48 ₱269
-0.45%
Cappuccino
$2.64 ₱158
$2.56 ₱153
3.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₱55.1
$0.85 ₱51.1
8.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₱29.79
$0.43 ₱25.55
16.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.55 ₱92.7
$1.53 ₱91.7
1.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 ₱163
$2.09 ₱125
30.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manila
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 ₱113
$2.31 ₱139
-18.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.40 ₱83.8
$1.52 ₱91.3
-7.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.08 ₱65.0
$1.17 ₱69.8
-7.69%
Eggs
$2.06 ₱124
$2.38 ₱142
-13.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.50 ₱569
$12.82 ₱768
-25.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.20 ₱312
$5.35 ₱321
-2.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.66 ₱519
$7.52 ₱450
15.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.51 ₱210
$3.46 ₱208
1.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 ₱103
$1.46 ₱87.6
18.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.49 ₱209
$3.26 ₱195
7.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.49 ₱149
$2.25 ₱135
10.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.83 ₱169
$2.56 ₱154
10.55%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 ₱185
$2.57 ₱154
20.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 ₱117
$0.97 ₱58.2
102.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 ₱41.21
$0.77 ₱46.23
-10.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44 ₱206
$3.27 ₱196
5.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.02 ₱601
$6.84 ₱410
46.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 ₱86.9
$1.16 ₱69.3
25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 ₱133
$2.33 ₱139
-4.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Manila
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 ₱28.77
$0.26 ₱15.49
84.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.92 ₱714
$15.33 ₱919
-22.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 ₱51.0
$0.87 ₱52.4
-2.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 ₱14.98
$0.23 ₱13.67
8.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.16 ₱129
$2.71 ₱162
-20.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ₱67.2
$1.15 ₱68.7
-2.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K ₱1.6M
$30.7K ₱1.8M
-14.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₱1.3M
$27.0K ₱1.6M
-17.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manila
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$135 ₱8,074
$96.4 ₱5,776
39.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.66 ₱1,298
$34.40 ₱2,061
-37.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.09 ₱1,623
$29.34 ₱1,758
-7.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manila
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.91 ₱2,511
$33.83 ₱2,027
23.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.82 ₱409
$8.29 ₱497
-17.73%
Cinema Ticket
$6.88 ₱412
$5.78 ₱346
19.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manila
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$363 ₱21.7K
$234 ₱14.0K
55.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ₱688.8K
$3,897 ₱233.5K
195.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manila
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.72 ₱2,739
$53.6 ₱3,208
-14.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.42 ₱2,062
$22.90 ₱1,372
50.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.2 ₱4,863
$76.6 ₱4,587
6.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.98 ₱2,815
$56.2 ₱3,368
-16.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manila
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$503 ₱30.1K
$510 ₱30.5K
-1.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$270 ₱16.2K
$217 ₱13.0K
24.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,689 ₱101.2K
$803 ₱48.1K
110.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$631 ₱37.8K
$388 ₱23.2K
62.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,403 ₱263.8K
$3,082 ₱184.7K
42.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,636 ₱157.9K
$1,952 ₱116.9K
35.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manila
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$453 ₱27.1K
$382 ₱22.9K
18.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.52
8
-6.00%

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

Last update for Manila: April 12, 2026

Last update for Cebu: April 14, 2026

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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