Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacloban and Cuenca Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacloban and Cuenca

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $829 per month in Tacloban vs $914 in Cuenca, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,185 per month in Tacloban vs $1,336 in Cuenca, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,540 per month in Tacloban vs $1,759 in Cuenca, rent included.

Tacloban is about 9% cheaper than Cuenca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tacloban and Cuenca are more affordable than the global median – Tacloban 38% lower, Cuenca 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ₱269

$3.46 $3.46

29.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.84 ₱1,074

$24.60 $24.60

-27.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.68 ₱161

$7.09 $7.09

-62.20%

Cappuccino

$2.61 ₱157

$2.41 $2.41

8.30%

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

$0.71 ₱43.01

$0.81 $0.81

-12.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₱23.31

$0.69 $0.69

-43.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱92.2

$1.97 $1.97

-22.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 ₱130

$3.55 $3.55

-39.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₱136

$1.12 $1.12

100.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ₱92.0

$1.67 $1.67

-8.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱59.9

$1.51 $1.51

-33.77%

Eggs

$2.30 ₱138

$2.16 $2.16

6.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.99 ₱782

$5.35 $5.35

142.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 ₱285

$5.64 $5.64

-15.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.77 ₱468

$6.17 $6.17

25.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 ₱219

$1.46 $1.46

149.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 ₱76.0

$1.04 $1.04

21.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.30 ₱198

$1.23 $1.23

168.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱110

$1.03 $1.03

76.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 ₱159

$1.53 $1.53

72.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 ₱152

$1.03 $1.03

144.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱55.3

$0.46 $0.46

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₱47.87

$1.03 $1.03

-22.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 ₱131

$5.86 $5.86

-62.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.70 ₱403

$10.04 $10.04

-33.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱69.7

$1.46 $1.46

-20.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 ₱141

$3.32 $3.32

-29.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 ₱10.29

$0.36 $0.36

-52.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.57 $26.57

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 ₱53.6

$0.66 $0.66

34.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.16 ₱9.35

$1.02 $1.02

-84.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 ₱157

$13.45 $13.45

-80.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱65.6

$0.68 $0.68

60.29%

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

$30.5K ₱1.8M

$30.4K $30.4K

0.40%

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

$27.8K ₱1.7M

$28.4K $28.4K

-2.04%

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

$96.2 ₱5,786

$40.43 $40.43

137.82%

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

$34.23 ₱2,060

$13.90 $13.90

146.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.40 ₱1,829

$30.88 $30.88

-1.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.30 ₱2,064

$28.74 $28.74

19.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.48 ₱270

$5.26 $5.26

-14.83%

Cinema Ticket

$6.11 ₱368

$7.57 $7.57

-19.29%

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

$230 ₱13.9K

$256 $256

-9.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,887 ₱233.9K

$5,634 $5,634

-31.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.72 ₱2,751

$55.6 $55.6

-17.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.34 ₱1,405

$53.1 $53.1

-56.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.6 ₱4,610

$99.0 $99.0

-22.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.6 ₱3,348

$66.7 $66.7

-16.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 ₱14.9K

$373 $373

-33.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$211 ₱12.7K

$331 $331

-36.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 ₱47.7K

$671 $671

18.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ₱14.3K

$500 $500

-52.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,338 ₱140.7K

$1,219 $1,219

91.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,125 ₱127.9K

$858 $858

147.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$363 ₱21.9K

$545 $545

-33.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.48

-30.31%

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

Last update for Tacloban: April 22, 2026

Last update for Cuenca: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $248 in Tacloban versus $373 in Cuenca. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 50% higher in Cuenca, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18 in Tacloban versus $25 in Cuenca. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Tacloban vs $184 in Cuenca – so Cuenca wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Cuenca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cuenca is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,243 per month in Tacloban and $1,371 in Cuenca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tacloban, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Tacloban and $25.00 in Cuenca. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 28% cheaper in Cuenca – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $829 in Tacloban and $914 in Cuenca, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Tacloban – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tacloban. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cuenca makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.