Cost of Living Comparison Between Siargao and Cebu Cost of Living Comparison Between Siargao and Cebu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $785 in Siargao versus $955 in Cebu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,239 in Siargao versus $1,457 in Cebu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,693 in Siargao versus $1,960 in Cebu.

Living in Siargao costs roughly 18% less than in Cebu, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Siargao 42% lower, Cebu 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 ₱219

$4.20 ₱255

-14.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ₱1,206

$25.06 ₱1,522

-20.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.27 ₱199

$4.07 ₱247

-19.66%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱161

$2.64 ₱160

0.38%

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

$0.82 ₱49.87

$1.54 ₱93.9

-46.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₱23.85

$0.55 ₱33.53

-29.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.31 ₱79.4

$1.85 ₱113

-29.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$2.26 ₱137

-4.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.97 ₱120

-7.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ₱74.3

$1.44 ₱87.5

-15.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 ₱58.4

$1.05 ₱63.7

-8.57%

Eggs

$2.03 ₱123

$2.09 ₱127

-2.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.11 ₱493

$10.40 ₱632

-22.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.23 ₱257

$4.62 ₱281

-8.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.86 ₱477

$7.65 ₱465

2.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ₱178

$3.59 ₱218

-18.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 ₱91.1

$1.45 ₱88.1

3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 ₱159

$2.45 ₱149

6.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₱98.1

$1.60 ₱97.1

0.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.31 ₱140

$2.44 ₱148

-5.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.63 ₱160

$2.02 ₱123

30.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ₱65.1

$1.21 ₱73.8

-11.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₱42.86

$0.68 ₱41.39

4.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.91 ₱177

$3.00 ₱182

-3.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.64 ₱403

$6.30 ₱383

5.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₱70.9

$1.33 ₱81.0

-12.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ₱120

$1.79 ₱108

10.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.15

$0.26 ₱15.91

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.04 ₱610

$12.79 ₱777

-21.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱47.39

$0.82 ₱49.62

-4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.28

$0.23 ₱14.02

-4.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 ₱131

$4.51 ₱274

-52.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱69.4

$1.35 ₱81.8

-15.56%

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

$27.0K ₱1.6M

$22.3K ₱1.4M

21.01%

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

$20.3K ₱1.2M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

3.07%

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

$113 ₱6,892

$123 ₱7,485

-7.92%

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

$32.76 ₱1,990

$15.37 ₱934

113.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.99 ₱1,640

$28.23 ₱1,716

-4.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.64 ₱2,044

$32.78 ₱1,992

2.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.52 ₱275

$6.59 ₱400

-31.41%

Cinema Ticket

$6.03 ₱366

$5.70 ₱346

5.79%

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

$152 ₱9,264

$289 ₱17.6K

-47.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,308 ₱261.8K

$8,407 ₱510.8K

-48.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.38 ₱2,757

$50.5 ₱3,068

-10.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.10 ₱1,647

$25.60 ₱1,555

5.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 ₱4,502

$79.9 ₱4,855

-7.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.9 ₱3,273

$59.1 ₱3,590

-8.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.0K

$514 ₱31.3K

-48.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 ₱10.5K

$312 ₱19.0K

-44.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 ₱35.9K

$1,084 ₱65.9K

-45.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$395 ₱24.0K

$659 ₱40.0K

-40.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,380 ₱144.6K

$2,985 ₱181.4K

-20.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$970 ₱59.0K

$1,937 ₱117.7K

-49.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$350 ₱21.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

7.2

-7.36%

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

Last update for Siargao: August 3, 2026

Last update for Cebu: August 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in Siargao and $514 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20.00 in Siargao vs $25.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $216 per month, with Siargao 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

Siargao vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Siargao is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,178 in Siargao and $1,432 in Cebu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $263 in Siargao versus $514 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $785 per month in Siargao versus $955 in Cebu – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Siargao runs roughly 27% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $785 in Siargao versus $955 in Cebu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Siargao but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Siargao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Siargao is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cebu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Siargao and Cebu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Siargao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.