🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $663 in Nueva Ecija versus $860 in Alexandria.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,064 in Nueva Ecija versus $1,419 in Alexandria.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,465 in Nueva Ecija versus $1,978 in Alexandria.
🙂Living in Nueva Ecija costs roughly 23% less than in Alexandria, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Nueva Ecija51% lower, Alexandria36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nueva Ecija
Alexandria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40₱271
$9.00RON 40.68
-51.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.35₱2,180
$33.89RON 153
4.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.41₱210
$6.84RON 30.94
-50.15%
Cappuccino
$1.33₱82.1
$1.87RON 8.44
-28.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₱46.99
$1.94RON 8.78
-60.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34₱20.68
$1.64RON 7.41
-79.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.85₱52.3
$2.24RON 10.15
-62.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32₱143
$2.84RON 12.83
-18.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nueva Ecija
Alexandria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.98₱184
$1.34RON 6.06
122.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.05₱64.7
$1.27RON 5.73
-17.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92₱56.9
$1.41RON 6.37
-34.75%
Eggs
$1.72₱106
$1.40RON 6.31
22.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.83₱483
$5.34RON 24.15
46.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.82₱236
$4.48RON 20.26
-14.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.37₱393
$8.59RON 38.82
-25.84%
Apples(1kg)
$4.16₱256
$0.89RON 4.03
367.42%
Banana(1kg)
$0.83₱51.0
$1.51RON 6.80
-45.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92₱119
$1.18RON 5.31
62.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.77₱109
$1.12RON 5.07
58.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67₱103
$0.48RON 2.18
247.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18₱135
$0.71RON 3.21
207.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.37₱146
$0.44RON 2.01
438.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51₱31.71
$0.72RON 3.26
-29.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53₱156
$5.65RON 25.53
-55.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.38₱270
$5.62RON 25.41
-22.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34₱82.4
$0.72RON 3.24
86.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44₱150
$0.91RON 4.10
168.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Nueva Ecija
Alexandria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32₱19.87
$0.72RON 3.27
-55.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.10₱376
$23.07RON 104
-73.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77₱47.32
$0.47RON 2.13
63.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₱13.47
$0.44RON 1.97
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.12₱69.1
$5.20RON 23.50
-78.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95₱58.7
$1.58RON 7.16
-39.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5K₱1.1M
$18.1KRON 81.7K
-3.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K₱1.4M
$23.9KRON 107.9K
-1.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nueva Ecija
Alexandria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9₱5,480
$115RON 521
-22.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.35₱1,995
$6.98RON 31.55
363.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.29₱1,251
$6.86RON 31.01
195.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nueva Ecija
Alexandria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.41₱2,060
$38.58RON 174
-13.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.31₱266
$9.09RON 41.07
-52.59%
Cinema Ticket
$5.10₱314
$4.66RON 21.05
9.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nueva Ecija
Alexandria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153₱9,451
$436RON 1,971
-64.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,346₱268.0K
$6,987RON 31.6K
-37.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nueva Ecija
Alexandria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.11₱2,781
$67.6RON 306
-33.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.85₱2,088
$34.95RON 158
-3.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.5₱4,163
$69.3RON 313
-2.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₱7,053
$68.5RON 310
66.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nueva Ecija
Alexandria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$128₱7,890
$349RON 1,576
-63.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$76.1₱4,692
$232RON 1,047
-67.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$195₱12.0K
$802RON 3,624
-75.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$140₱8,637
$571RON 2,580
-75.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,421₱149.3K
$1,357RON 6,135
78.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$962₱59.3K
$843RON 3,811
14.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nueva Ecija
Alexandria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$195₱12.0K
$1,332RON 6,021
-85.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.17
6.5
-5.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nueva Ecija: June 1, 2026
Last update for Alexandria: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $128 in Nueva Ecija and $349 in Alexandria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Alexandria pays 583% 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: $35.00 in Nueva Ecija vs $34.00 in Alexandria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $155 per month, with Alexandria cheaper across the board.
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
Nueva Ecija vs Alexandria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nueva Ecija or Alexandria?
Nueva Ecija wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Alexandria. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nueva Ecija the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Nueva Ecija or Alexandria?
On paper, Alexandria earns 583% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Nueva Ecija vs Alexandria?
Rent for a central apartment: $128 in Nueva Ecija versus $349 in Alexandria. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Nueva Ecija compared to Alexandria?
All in, you'll spend $663 per month in Nueva Ecija versus $860 in Alexandria – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Nueva Ecija vs Alexandria?
A monthly transit pass in Nueva Ecija runs roughly 278% less than in Alexandria. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $800/month in Nueva Ecija or Alexandria?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Nueva Ecija gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Nueva Ecija or Alexandria?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nueva Ecija gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Alexandria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Nueva Ecija vs other spots: cost of living compared