Cost of Living Comparison Between Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Cebu Cost of Living Comparison Between Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Cebu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $747 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone versus $854 in Cebu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,304 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone versus $1,318 in Cebu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,861 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone versus $1,782 in Cebu.

Living in Subic Bay Freeport Zone costs roughly 13% less than in Cebu, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Subic Bay Freeport Zone 44% lower, Cebu 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.52 ₱279

$4.40 ₱271

2.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.84 ₱977

$23.98 ₱1,479

-33.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.65 ₱225

$4.54 ₱280

-19.60%

Cappuccino

$2.46 ₱152

$2.53 ₱156

-2.77%

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

$0.85 ₱52.6

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₱28.35

$0.45 ₱27.85

2.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 ₱88.8

$1.52 ₱93.6

-5.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₱141

$2.19 ₱135

4.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 ₱111

$2.30 ₱142

-21.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 ₱94.8

$1.57 ₱96.8

-1.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱61.4

$1.15 ₱71.2

-13.04%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱124

$2.36 ₱146

-15.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.03 ₱495

$13.03 ₱804

-38.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.08 ₱313

$5.10 ₱314

-0.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.49 ₱832

$7.95 ₱490

69.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ₱182

$3.49 ₱215

-15.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.51 ₱92.9

19.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 ₱86.4

$3.29 ₱203

-57.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.9

$2.19 ₱135

-46.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.72 ₱106

$2.61 ₱161

-34.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ₱83.8

$2.45 ₱151

-44.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₱68.9

$0.92 ₱56.9

21.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₱51.7

$0.83 ₱51.4

1.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 ₱149

$3.27 ₱202

-25.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.22 ₱507

$6.74 ₱416

21.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₱50.2

$1.21 ₱74.7

-33.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 ₱137

$2.27 ₱140

-1.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.56

$0.28 ₱17.37

-21.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.15 ₱1,119

$15.14 ₱934

19.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 ₱41.77

$0.87 ₱53.6

-21.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.78

$0.25 ₱15.50

8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 ₱134

$2.61 ₱161

-16.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.4

$1.14 ₱70.3

-2.63%

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

$28.2K ₱1.7M

$29.6K ₱1.8M

-4.49%

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

$17.9K ₱1.1M

$27.0K ₱1.7M

-33.84%

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

$131 ₱8,060

$95.2 ₱5,870

37.30%

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

$11.04 ₱681

$33.67 ₱2,077

-67.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.26 ₱1,126

$29.79 ₱1,837

-38.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.90 ₱1,968

$32.90 ₱2,029

-3.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.36 ₱269

$8.16 ₱503

-46.57%

Cinema Ticket

$7.35 ₱454

$5.79 ₱357

26.94%

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

$151 ₱9,322

$232 ₱14.3K

-34.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,274 ₱263.6K

$3,860 ₱238.1K

10.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.37 ₱2,860

$52.1 ₱3,214

-11.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.81 ₱2,085

$22.82 ₱1,407

48.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 ₱4,192

$76.8 ₱4,736

-11.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₱6,968

$54.3 ₱3,351

107.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$141 ₱8,725

$497 ₱30.6K

-71.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.7 ₱5,535

$214 ₱13.2K

-57.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 ₱22.4K

$797 ₱49.2K

-54.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱30.1K

$385 ₱23.8K

26.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,511 ₱154.9K

$2,968 ₱183.1K

-15.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,963 ₱121.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$383 ₱23.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

-22.88%

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

Last update for Subic Bay Freeport Zone: April 28, 2026

Last update for Cebu: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $141 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone and $497 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $16.00 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $242 per month, with Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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

Subic Bay Freeport Zone vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Subic Bay Freeport Zone is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,120 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone and $1,281 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: $141 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone versus $497 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $747 per month in Subic Bay Freeport Zone versus $854 in Cebu – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Subic Bay Freeport Zone runs roughly 20% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $747 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone versus $854 in Cebu, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Subic Bay Freeport Zone but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Subic Bay Freeport Zone the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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, Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 Subic Bay Freeport Zone gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.