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Compare cities › Cebu vs Phuket
Cebu vs Phuket cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇹🇭 PhuketCebu is 18% cheaper than Phuket
Living on $1,393 a month in Cebu feels like about $1,792 in Phuket — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$85.6 vs $92.3
Per month
$1,393 vs $1,792
Local meal
₱ 150 vs ฿ 90
$2.63 vs $2.73
Taxi 5 km
₱ 120 vs ฿ 78
$2.11 vs $2.36
At a glance
FoodCebu 18% cheaper
Cafés & drinksCebu 49% cheaper
TransportCebu 59% cheaper
StayCebu 12% cheaper
FunCebu 19% cheaper
- Where Phuket is clearly cheaper: Convenience store (18%↓), Bottled water (17%↓)
- Where Cebu is clearly cheaper: Transit (78%↓), Cocktail & wine (58%↓), Beer (58%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Cebu | Phuket | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₱ 150$2.63 | ฿ 90$2.73 | similar |
| Street food1 item | ₱ 68$1.19 | ฿ 41$1.24 | similar |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₱ 550$9.65 | ฿ 500$15.2 | Cebu −36% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₱ 140$2.46 | ฿ 90$2.73 | Cebu −10% |
| Beerone bottle | ₱ 80$1.4 | ฿ 110$3.33 | Cebu −58% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₱ 210$3.68 | ฿ 290$8.79 | Cebu −58% |
| Bottled water | ₱ 25$0.44 | ฿ 12$0.36 | Phuket −17% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₱ 63$1.11 | ฿ 30$0.91 | Phuket −18% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₱ 120$2.11 | ฿ 78$2.36 | Cebu −11% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₱ 94$1.65 | ฿ 82$2.48 | Cebu −34% |
| Transitone ride | ₱ 15$0.26 | ฿ 40$1.21 | Cebu −78% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₱ 500$8.77 | ฿ 330$10 | Cebu −12% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₱ 3,200$56.1 | ฿ 1,800$54.5 | similar |
| Studio rent (month) | ₱ 20,000$351 | ฿ 15,000$455 | Cebu −23% |
| Laundry | ₱ 94$1.65 | ฿ 61$1.85 | Cebu −11% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₱ 380$6.67 | ฿ 330$10 | Cebu −33% |
| Haircutcut | ₱ 200$3.51 | ฿ 140$4.24 | Cebu −17% |
| Massage1 hour | ₱ 560$9.82 | ฿ 410$12.4 | Cebu −21% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₱ 2,200$38.6 | ฿ 1,200$36.4 | Phuket −6% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₱ 380$6.67 | ฿ 330$10 | Cebu −33% |
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 Phuket?
Cebu is 18% cheaper than Phuket. Daily budget $85.6 vs $92.3; a month $1,393 vs $1,792.
How do monthly costs compare between Cebu and Phuket?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Cebu is about $1,393 and Phuket about $1,792 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.