Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacloban and Cebu Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacloban and Cebu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $834 in Tacloban versus $864 in Cebu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,187 in Tacloban versus $1,335 in Cebu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,541 in Tacloban versus $1,807 in Cebu.

Living in Tacloban costs roughly 3% less than in Cebu, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tacloban 38% lower, Cebu 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ₱273

$4.49 ₱277

-1.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.41 ₱1,076

$23.83 ₱1,473

-26.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.59 ₱160

$4.38 ₱271

-40.87%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱164

$2.64 ₱163

0.38%

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

$0.77 ₱47.70

$0.81 ₱49.91

-4.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱25.66

$0.43 ₱26.57

-2.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 ₱98.4

$1.52 ₱93.8

4.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₱135

$2.10 ₱130

3.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₱139

$2.24 ₱139

0.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ₱92.5

$1.49 ₱92.4

0.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 ₱58.5

$1.11 ₱68.6

-14.41%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱143

$2.29 ₱141

0.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.77 ₱789

$13.04 ₱806

-2.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.66 ₱288

$5.20 ₱322

-10.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.65 ₱473

$7.49 ₱463

2.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.56 ₱220

$3.52 ₱218

1.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ₱75.3

$1.53 ₱94.3

-20.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.43 ₱212

$3.42 ₱211

0.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 ₱111

$2.25 ₱139

-20.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.62 ₱162

Onion (1kg)

$2.57 ₱159

$2.47 ₱153

4.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₱62.1

$0.99 ₱61.2

1.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₱52.4

$0.78 ₱48.07

8.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.11 ₱130

$3.25 ₱201

-35.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.39 ₱395

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.8

$1.16 ₱72.0

4.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₱141

$2.23 ₱138

2.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₱12.87

$0.28 ₱17.31

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.32 ₱947

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱51.3

$0.88 ₱54.1

-5.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.14 ₱8.94

$0.23 ₱14.20

-39.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 ₱169

$2.61 ₱161

4.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.3

$1.10 ₱68.2

4.55%

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

$29.6K ₱1.8M

$29.8K ₱1.8M

-0.35%

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

$27.4K ₱1.7M

$27.3K ₱1.7M

0.43%

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

$96.1 ₱5,941

$96.4 ₱5,959

-0.29%

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

$34.12 ₱2,109

$34.56 ₱2,136

-1.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.34 ₱1,875

$29.67 ₱1,834

2.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.93 ₱2,098

$33.00 ₱2,040

2.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.45 ₱275

$8.16 ₱505

-45.47%

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 ₱363

$5.77 ₱357

1.73%

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

$229 ₱14.1K

$235 ₱14.5K

-2.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,915 ₱242.0K

$3,852 ₱238.1K

1.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.09 ₱2,849

$51.5 ₱3,186

-10.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.35 ₱1,444

$23.09 ₱1,427

1.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.3 ₱4,594

$75.7 ₱4,677

-1.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.5 ₱3,492

$55.2 ₱3,412

2.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$251 ₱15.5K

$502 ₱31.0K

-50.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$211 ₱13.1K

$216 ₱13.3K

-2.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$813 ₱50.3K

$807 ₱49.9K

0.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ₱14.7K

$383 ₱23.7K

-38.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,431 ₱150.3K

$2,979 ₱184.2K

-18.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$989 ₱61.1K

$1,932 ₱119.5K

-48.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$354 ₱21.9K

$347 ₱21.5K

2.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Tacloban: July 21, 2026

Last update for Cebu: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $251 in Tacloban and $502 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tacloban pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $17.00 in Tacloban vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $239 per month, with Tacloban 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

Tacloban vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tacloban is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 2% higher in Tacloban, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $251 in Tacloban versus $502 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $834 per month in Tacloban versus $864 in Cebu – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Tacloban gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Tacloban 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, Tacloban 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 Tacloban gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.