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: $533 in Nueva Ecija versus $918 in Alexandria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $948 in Nueva Ecija versus $1,407 in Alexandria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,363 in Nueva Ecija versus $1,896 in Alexandria.

Living in Nueva Ecija costs roughly 42% less than in Alexandria, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nueva Ecija 61% lower, Alexandria 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.05 ₱254

$8.77 RON 39.79

-53.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.70 ₱1,044

$32.51 RON 147

-48.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.85 ₱178

$7.70 RON 34.91

-62.99%

Cappuccino

$1.47 ₱92.0

$1.74 RON 7.88

-15.52%

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

$0.59 ₱36.92

$1.93 RON 8.74

-69.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₱19.99

$1.56 RON 7.08

-79.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₱63.9

$2.17 RON 9.85

-53.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 ₱102

$2.62 RON 11.87

-37.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ₱102

$1.50 RON 6.80

8.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 ₱58.8

$0.84 RON 3.79

11.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ₱60.4

$1.21 RON 5.47

-19.83%

Eggs

$1.61 ₱100

$2.19 RON 9.94

-26.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.11 ₱320

$5.16 RON 23.40

-0.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 ₱215

$4.69 RON 21.29

-26.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.66 ₱354

$8.48 RON 38.48

-33.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.20 ₱138

$0.91 RON 4.12

141.76%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 ₱47.18

$1.18 RON 5.37

-36.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 ₱110

$0.98 RON 4.44

79.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.5

$1.01 RON 4.59

3.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.75 ₱110

$0.69 RON 3.11

153.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 ₱112

$0.65 RON 2.94

173.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱39.08

$0.74 RON 3.37

-16.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱26.67

$0.89 RON 4.05

-51.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 ₱144

$5.53 RON 25.08

-58.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.47 ₱280

$5.38 RON 24.42

-16.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$0.96 RON 4.36

2.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₱131

$1.08 RON 4.90

93.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ₱16.73

$0.63 RON 2.86

-57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.57 ₱348

$44.26 RON 201

-87.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 ₱42.90

$0.45 RON 2.05

53.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.16 ₱9.89

$0.42 RON 1.92

-61.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 ₱63.1

$5.77 RON 26.17

-82.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 ₱57.1

$1.68 RON 7.61

-45.83%

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

$15.9K ₱995.7K

$17.2K RON 77.8K

-7.16%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$23.7K RON 107.4K

-16.70%

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

$81.6 ₱5,103

$122 RON 553

-33.10%

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

$17.39 ₱1,088

$5.59 RON 25.37

211.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.68 ₱1,168

$8.02 RON 36.36

132.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.61 ₱1,852

$62.7 RON 284

-52.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.93 ₱309

$26.84 RON 122

-81.63%

Cinema Ticket

$4.43 ₱277

$6.50 RON 29.48

-31.85%

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

$135 ₱8,419

$326 RON 1,480

-58.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₱670.7K

$6,983 RON 31.7K

53.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.67 ₱1,793

$56.0 RON 254

-48.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.79 ₱1,237

$23.04 RON 105

-14.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 ₱4,563

$67.5 RON 306

8.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.7 ₱3,485

$66.9 RON 303

-16.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 ₱7,307

$334 RON 1,513

-64.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$67.6 ₱4,229

$254 RON 1,151

-73.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₱11.0K

$616 RON 2,793

-71.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 ₱21.7K

$448 RON 2,030

-22.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,596 ₱162.3K

$1,314 RON 5,959

97.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,161 ₱72.6K

$838 RON 3,800

38.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 ₱11.8K

$906 RON 4,110

-79.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

6.73

0.30%

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

Last update for Nueva Ecija: August 30, 2026

Last update for Alexandria: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Nueva Ecija and $334 in Alexandria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alexandria pays 381% 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: $17.00 in Nueva Ecija vs $33.00 in Alexandria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $148 vs $157 per month, with Nueva Ecija 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 72% 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 381% 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: $117 in Nueva Ecija versus $334 in Alexandria. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $533 per month in Nueva Ecija versus $918 in Alexandria – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Nueva Ecija runs roughly 695% 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 72% less than in Alexandria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.