Essentials
- City
- Cebu City, Province of Cebu, Philippines
- Population
- Approx. 1,000,000 (Metro Cebu approx. 3.2 million)
- Internet Speed
- Fiber broadband 50-200 Mbps; 5G coverage 40-100 Mbps via Globe/Smart
- Currency & Banking
- Philippine Peso (PHP). 1 USD ≈ 56.20 PHP, 1 EUR ≈ 61.10 PHP
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use sealed bottled water or 5-gallon purified water delivery
- Power
- 220V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A and B sockets (American style)
- SIM Card
- Globe or Smart; available at Mactan-Cebu Airport for ₱500–₱1,000 with large data packs
- Banking for Expats
- BDO (Banco de Oro), BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands), GCash (digital wallet), Maya
- Accommodation
- Condominiums in IT Park or Business Park; Airbnb for short-term; Facebook Marketplace for long-term
- Cashless Friendly
- Partially. GCash/Maya accepted in malls; cash required for small eateries and transport
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Agoda Homes, and DotProperty Philippines
- Budget Accommodation
- Mad Monkey Hostel Cebu City (₱600/night dorm) or Shejoje Poshtel Hostel
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Lahug (near JY Square) or Mactan Island (for beach access)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Cebu IT Park (Lahug) and Cebu Business Park (Ayala Center area)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Company CEBU (IT Park or Mandaue) - Daily pass approx. ₱500; Monthly ₱7,000
- Best Cafe for Work
- Civet Coffee (IT Park) or Workplace Cafe (Ramos Street/Banawa) - Hourly rates with Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Cebu Digital Nomads Facebook Group; Startup Island PH meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Cebu events; Hash House Harriers Cebu
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Grab (cars/taxis) or JoyRide/Angkas (motorcycle taxis)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Cebu Scooter Rental (₱400-₱600/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Mactan Island (45-60 mins) or Bantayan Island (4-5 hours North)
- Top Regional Airline
- Cebu Pacific Air
- Top International Airline
- Philippine Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific
- Highway Access
- Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) connecting Cebu City to Mactan
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Cebu South Bus Terminal (for South Cebu) and Cebu North Bus Terminal
- Public Transport Passes
- No unified pass; pay per ride on Jeepneys (₱13+) or MyBus (₱25-₱50)
- Regional Travel
- OceanJet Ferry from Pier 1 to Bohol/Dumaguete; Ceres Bus for provincial routes
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Chong Hua Hospital (Cebu Business Park) or Cebu Doctors' University Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- YogaHub (ITC Building, Mango Ave) or Treehouse Yoga (Cebu IT Park)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Anytime Fitness (Escario/IT Park) - ₱2,500/month; Gold's Gym
- Laundry Services
- Wash 'N Dry (multiple locations) - Approx. ₱150-₱200 for 7kg load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- GrabFood and FoodPanda
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Cebu Lechon (Roasted Pig) - Try Rico's Lechon or House of Lechon
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Lunhaw Vegan Cafe (Maxwell Hotel) or Wellnessland Wholeness Center
- Best Dessert Spots
- 10 Dove Street (Cebu Business Park) or Cardinal Cafe
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Carbon Market (for fresh produce) or Gaisano Malls
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Lazada and Shopee
- Grocery Delivery
- MetroMart or Landers Superstore Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Mango Square (Avenue) or IT Park (Garden Bloc for outdoor drinks)
- Local Brewery
- Cebu Brewing Co. (available at The Social, Ayala Center)
- Wine Bars
- La Vie Parisienne (Gorordo Ave) - French wine and bakery
- Street Food Stalls
- Sugbo Mercado (IT Park) - Huge outdoor food market
- Popular International Cuisine
- Phat Pho (Vietnamese) or Tavolata (Italian) at AS Fortuna
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Magellan's Cross and Basilica del Santo Niño
- Museums & Art Venues
- Museo Sugbo (Provincial Museum) and Casa Gorordo Museum
- Historical Sites
- Fort San Pedro (Spanish military structure)
- Religious Sites
- Cebu Taoist Temple (Beverly Hills) and Simala Shrine (Sibonga)
- Annual Events
- Sinulog Festival (Third Sunday of January)
- Cultural Districts
- Parian District (historic downtown Cebu)
- Theater Venues
- Marcelo Fernan Promenade or SM Seaside City Centerstage
- Local Markets
- Carbon Market (largest traditional market)
- Music Scene
- Handuraw Pizza (local indie bands) or Cubana (Mango Ave)
- Street Art
- Street art murals around Molave Street and downtown Colon
- Cooking Classes
- Marketman's Kitchen (private classes upon request)
- Art Galleries
- Qube Gallery (Crossroads, Banilad) or 856 G Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House
- Local Heritage
- Traditional 'Puso' (hanging rice) and the guitar-making industry in Lapu-Lapu
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Sirao Flower Farm (Little Amsterdam) and Temple of Leah (Busay Hills)
- National Parks Nearby
- Central Cebu Protected Landscape
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- IT Park Green Spaces or mountain biking trails in Busay
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Tops Lookout (Busay) - Panoramic city view at 600m altitude
- Birdwatching Locations
- Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary (reachable via Mactan)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Public beaches in Marigondon (Mactan) with local permits
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- LBC Express or J&T Express
- Tech Repair Services
- SST Laptop Repair (SM City Cebu) or Apple Service Center (Ayala)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Metro Sports Center (Salinas Drive, Lahug)
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française de Cebu (French) or local Tagalog/Cebuano tutors at universities
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Cebu City Public Library (Osmeña Blvd) - 24/7 access
- Community Centers
- Sacred Heart Center (D. Jakosalem St)
- Gaming Lounges
- TNC Cyber Cafe or Voyager Internet Cafe
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Waterfront Cebu City Hotel Casino or NUSTAR Resort
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₱160,000 per m² (e.g., 25 m² = ₱4,000,000 / $71,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₱110,000 per m² (e.g., 25 m² = ₱2,750,000 / $49,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₱150,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = ₱6,000,000 / $106,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₱100,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = ₱4,000,000 / $71,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₱140,000 per m² (e.g., 65 m² = ₱9,100,000 / $162,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₱95,000 per m² (e.g., 65 m² = ₱6,175,000 / $110,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (Standard) or 20% for small domestic corporations
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents; 25% for non-resident individuals
- Tax System
- Resident aliens taxed on income derived from sources within the Philippines
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% for income over ₱8,000,000
- VAT
- 12% (Value Added Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Philippines has emerging CFC rules under the CREATE Act
- Property Tax
- Yes, Real Property Tax (RPT) approx. 1% to 2% of assessed value
- Property Transaction Tax
- 6% Capital Gains Tax, 1.5% Documentary Stamp Tax, 0.5% Transfer Tax
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- SRRV Visa or the pending 'Digital Nomad Visa' bill offers specific exemptions