Cost of Living Comparison Between Nueva Ecija and Alexandria Cost of Living Comparison Between Nueva Ecija and Alexandria

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $656 in Nueva Ecija versus $836 in Alexandria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,080 in Nueva Ecija versus $1,380 in Alexandria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,504 in Nueva Ecija versus $1,924 in Alexandria.

Living in Nueva Ecija costs roughly 22% less than in Alexandria, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nueva Ecija 51% lower, Alexandria 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.32 ₱266

$9.29 RON 42.42

-53.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.99 ₱2,154

$34.04 RON 155

2.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.27 ₱202

$7.11 RON 32.45

-54.01%

Cappuccino

$1.39 ₱85.8

$1.88 RON 8.60

-26.06%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₱46.40

$1.99 RON 9.07

-62.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₱20.79

$1.64 RON 7.50

-79.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.86 ₱52.8

$2.36 RON 10.76

-63.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₱140

$2.73 RON 12.46

-16.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.96 ₱182

$1.42 RON 6.47

108.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 ₱64.0

$1.26 RON 5.74

-17.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱61.4

$1.35 RON 6.15

-25.93%

Eggs

$1.70 ₱105

$1.36 RON 6.23

25.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.13 ₱500

$5.22 RON 23.81

55.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.75 ₱231

$4.65 RON 21.22

-19.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.22 ₱383

$8.97 RON 40.95

-30.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 ₱257

$0.94 RON 4.29

344.68%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 ₱47.83

$1.52 RON 6.92

-48.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.18 RON 5.40

59.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱114

$1.13 RON 5.15

64.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱102

$0.44 RON 2.03

275.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₱135

$0.67 RON 3.05

228.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 ₱147

$0.44 RON 2.01

443.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₱31.42

$0.72 RON 3.30

-29.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 ₱150

$5.50 RON 25.10

-55.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.38 ₱270

$5.41 RON 24.71

-19.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₱85.0

$0.67 RON 3.04

105.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 ₱150

$0.95 RON 4.32

156.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₱18.28

$0.71 RON 3.26

-57.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.18 ₱380

$23.48 RON 107

-73.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱51.6

$0.48 RON 2.18

75.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.52

$0.44 RON 2.00

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₱72.6

$4.99 RON 22.77

-76.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 ₱58.8

$1.59 RON 7.28

-40.25%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.0K ₱1.1M

$18.1K RON 82.5K

-0.43%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K ₱1.4M

$24.0K RON 109.8K

-2.65%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$87.8 ₱5,406

$118 RON 537

-25.42%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$32.30 ₱1,989

$7.11 RON 32.44

354.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.32 ₱1,251

$6.89 RON 31.44

194.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.02 ₱2,094

$38.29 RON 175

-11.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.44 ₱274

$9.04 RON 41.25

-50.88%

Cinema Ticket

$5.08 ₱313

$4.74 RON 21.64

7.17%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$151 ₱9,292

$431 RON 1,969

-65.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,361 ₱268.5K

$7,025 RON 32.1K

-37.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.26 ₱2,848

$69.6 RON 318

-33.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.16 ₱2,103

$34.98 RON 160

-2.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.7 ₱4,168

$68.4 RON 312

-1.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₱7,145

$69.4 RON 317

67.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$126 ₱7,754

$342 RON 1,562

-63.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.5 ₱4,585

$231 RON 1,053

-67.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 ₱12.1K

$798 RON 3,642

-75.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$141 ₱8,672

$571 RON 2,605

-75.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,433 ₱149.8K

$1,329 RON 6,065

83.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,072 ₱66.0K

$811 RON 3,704

32.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$197 ₱12.1K

$861 RON 3,933

-77.11%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Alexandria: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $126 in Nueva Ecija and $342 in Alexandria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alexandria pays 337% 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 $201 vs $157 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

Nueva Ecija wins on cost – living expenses run 28% 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.

On paper, salaries run 337% lower in Alexandria. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $126 in Nueva Ecija versus $342 in Alexandria. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $656 per month in Nueva Ecija versus $836 in Alexandria – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Nueva Ecija runs roughly 280% less than in Alexandria. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Nueva Ecija gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Alexandria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.