🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $771 in Talisay City versus $879 in Cebu.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,188 in Talisay City versus $1,347 in Cebu.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,606 in Talisay City versus $1,815 in Cebu.
🌍Living in Talisay City costs roughly 12% less than in Cebu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Talisay City42% lower, Cebu34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Talisay City
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.62₱222
$4.34₱266
-16.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.52₱1,076
$23.95₱1,471
-26.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.26₱200
$4.48₱275
-27.23%
Cappuccino
$2.36₱145
$2.58₱158
-8.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84₱51.5
$0.78₱48.05
7.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40₱24.34
$0.45₱27.79
-11.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.30₱80.0
$1.52₱93.3
-14.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12₱130
$2.15₱132
-1.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Talisay City
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85₱113
$2.31₱142
-19.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26₱77.5
$1.53₱93.6
-17.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01₱62.2
$1.17₱72.1
-13.68%
Eggs
$2.09₱129
$2.35₱145
-11.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.82₱480
$12.68₱778
-38.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.37₱268
$5.26₱323
-16.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.86₱483
$7.88₱484
-0.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.93₱180
$3.48₱214
-15.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53₱93.8
$1.46₱89.8
4.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61₱160
$3.32₱204
-21.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61₱98.7
$2.27₱140
-29.07%
Potato(1kg)
$2.32₱142
$2.66₱163
-12.78%
Onion(1kg)
$2.55₱156
$2.45₱151
4.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06₱65.1
$0.93₱56.9
13.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76₱46.62
$0.79₱48.64
-3.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77₱170
$3.12₱192
-11.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.06₱556
$6.37₱391
42.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21₱74.5
$1.19₱73.2
1.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98₱122
$2.25₱138
-12.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Talisay City
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₱17.40
$0.26₱15.96
7.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$14.85₱912
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79₱48.26
$0.87₱53.3
-9.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₱13.42
$0.23₱14.09
-4.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.19₱135
$2.70₱166
-18.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₱70.1
$1.11₱68.0
2.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K₱1.6M
$30.0K₱1.8M
-11.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K₱1.3M
$26.8K₱1.6M
-22.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Talisay City
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111₱6,842
$96.9₱5,947
15.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.42₱1,990
$34.35₱2,109
-5.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.19₱1,669
$29.65₱1,820
-8.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Talisay City
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.37₱2,049
$33.03₱2,028
1.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.35₱267
$8.50₱522
-48.82%
Cinema Ticket
$6.12₱376
$5.82₱358
5.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Talisay City
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$150₱9,216
$227₱13.9K
-33.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,261₱261.6K
$3,968₱243.7K
7.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Talisay City
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.78₱2,811
$53.3₱3,273
-14.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.28₱1,614
$23.14₱1,421
13.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.4₱4,627
$74.7₱4,584
0.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.3₱3,272
$54.5₱3,346
-2.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Talisay City
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$263₱16.2K
$515₱31.6K
-48.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174₱10.7K
$217₱13.3K
-19.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$592₱36.3K
$785₱48.2K
-24.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389₱23.9K
$388₱23.8K
0.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,377₱145.9K
$2,908₱178.5K
-18.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$922₱56.6K
$1,911₱117.3K
-51.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Talisay City
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$347₱21.3K
$346₱21.2K
0.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
8
-16.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Talisay City: July 28, 2026
Last update for Cebu: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in Talisay City and $515 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Talisay City pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $18.00 in Talisay City vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $241 per month, with Talisay City 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
Talisay City vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Talisay City?
Talisay City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Talisay City or Cebu?
Average pay runs 0% higher in Talisay City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Talisay City and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $263 in Talisay City versus $515 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Talisay City and in Cebu?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Talisay City and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $771 per month in Talisay City versus $879 in Cebu – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Talisay City or in Cebu?
At $771 in Talisay City versus $879 in Cebu, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Talisay City but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Talisay City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Talisay City or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Talisay City 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.
Which city is safer, Talisay City or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Talisay City 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Talisay City 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.
Talisay City vs other spots: cost of living compared