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Compare cities › Cebu vs Palawan
Cebu vs Palawan cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇵🇠Cebu
🇵🇠PalawanPalawan is 5% cheaper than Cebu
Living on $1,393 a month in Cebu feels like about $1,411 in Palawan — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$85.6 vs $75.7
Per month
$1,393 vs $1,411
Local meal
₱ 150 vs ₱ 170
$2.63 vs $2.98
Taxi 5 km
₱ 120 vs ₱ 110
$2.11 vs $1.93
At a glance
FoodCebu 9% cheaper
Cafés & drinksCebu 9% cheaper
Transportsimilar
StayPalawan 9% cheaper
Funsimilar
- Where Palawan is clearly cheaper: Hotel night (19%↓), Bottled water (16%↓), Convenience store (16%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Cebu | Palawan | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₱ 150$2.63 | ₱ 170$2.98 | Cebu −12% |
| Street food1 item | ₱ 68$1.19 | ₱ 77$1.35 | Cebu −12% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₱ 550$9.65 | ₱ 570$10 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | ₱ 140$2.46 | ₱ 140$2.46 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | ₱ 80$1.4 | ₱ 91$1.6 | Cebu −12% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₱ 210$3.68 | ₱ 240$4.21 | Cebu −12% |
| Bottled water | ₱ 25$0.44 | ₱ 21$0.37 | Palawan −16% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₱ 63$1.11 | ₱ 53$0.93 | Palawan −16% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₱ 120$2.11 | ₱ 110$1.93 | Palawan −8% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₱ 94$1.65 | ₱ 98$1.72 | similar |
| Transitone ride | ₱ 15$0.26 | ₱ 17$0.3 | Cebu −12% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₱ 500$8.77 | ₱ 520$9.12 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | ₱ 3,200$56.1 | ₱ 2,600$45.6 | Palawan −19% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₱ 20,000$351 | ₱ 20,000$351 | similar |
| Laundry | ₱ 94$1.65 | ₱ 86$1.51 | Palawan −9% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₱ 380$6.67 | ₱ 340$5.96 | Palawan −11% |
| Haircutcut | ₱ 200$3.51 | ₱ 210$3.68 | Cebu −5% |
| Massage1 hour | ₱ 560$9.82 | ₱ 590$10.4 | Cebu −5% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₱ 2,200$38.6 | ₱ 2,300$40.4 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₱ 380$6.67 | ₱ 340$5.96 | Palawan −11% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Cebu or Palawan?
Palawan is 5% cheaper than Cebu. Daily budget $85.6 vs $75.7; a month $1,393 vs $1,411.
How do monthly costs compare between Cebu and Palawan?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Cebu is about $1,393 and Palawan about $1,411 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.