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City in Philippines

Cebu

Cebu City had 965,332 residents at the 2024 census; the wider Metro Cebu area is larger and is not what this figure counts. It has Cebu International School, which teaches the IB from early years to the Diploma, and a Philippine Retirement Authority office. [N1] [Cebu S1] [P2]

Country
Philippines
Region
Central Visayas
Population
965,332 in 2024. Cebu City (a highly urbanized city), 2024 Census of Population, 1 July 2024. It counts the city itself, not Metro Cebu, which also takes in Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and other towns.. [N1]
Settings
In a city [N1] [G1]
Weather
Warm all year [W1]

Why it is here

Why Cebu is on the list.

A city is listed when there is evidence that people move there. This is the evidence.

  • Cebu City had 965,332 people at the 2024 census, and the CIA World Factbook lists Cebu City third among the Philippines' urban areas, at 1.025 million in 2023. [N1] [G1]
  • Cebu International School in Pit-os teaches the full IB continuum (Diploma authorized since 1999) and lists 20 or more nationalities. [Cebu S1]
  • The Philippine Retirement Authority runs its Visayas satellite office in Cebu Business Park, Cebu City. [P2]
  • The authority counts about 4,200 holders of its retiree visa in Central Visayas, the fourth-most of any region (approximate; regional, not for Cebu City alone). [P1]

The Fernshore Index

How it grades, factor by factor.

Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.

The country

More on Philippines.

Cities

Other cities in Philippines.

Questions about Cebu.

How big is Cebu?

Cebu City had 965,332 residents at the 2024 census. That counts the city itself; the same compiler lists a wider Cebu urban area of 2,581,824, which takes in Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and other towns. The CIA Factbook gives Cebu City 1.025 million in 2023.

Cebu City: population, Philippine Statistics Authority (2024 Census of Population, reference date 1 July 2024), as compiled by City Population (citypopulation.de, a private site); psa.gov.ph refused automated access (HTTP 403); The World Factbook: Philippines (People and Society), Central Intelligence Agency (text read from the factbook.json mirror on GitHub; cia.gov refused automated access). Checked 16 October 2026

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What does a one-bedroom condo cost to rent in Cebu City?

On 16 October 2026 one portal's first page of 25 Cebu City one-bedroom condo listings asked PHP 16,800 to 75,000 a month, most between 20,000 and 50,000. These are asking prices from one site, not a city average, and bills were not checked.

Cebu City condos for rent, 1 bedroom (listing index seen 16 October 2026), Dot Property (property portal, private, not official). Checked 16 October 2026

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Is there a retiree visa office in Cebu?

Yes. The Philippine Retirement Authority runs its Visayas satellite office in Cebu Business Park, Cebu City. It counts about 4,200 retiree-visa holders in Central Visayas, a regional figure (approximate, with no as-of date) that is not for Cebu City alone.

Contact Us (head office and satellite offices), Philippine Retirement Authority; Geographic Concentration of SRRV Holders in the Philippines (public data feed behind the page), Philippine Retirement Authority. Checked 16 October 2026

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Is there an international school in Cebu?

Cebu International School in Pit-os teaches the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes of the IB, calls itself the first IB continuum school in the Philippines, and lists 20 or more nationalities. Fees and places are unknown here.

Cebu International School, Cebu International School. Checked 16 October 2026

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How hot and rainy is Cebu?

At Mactan airport, by Cebu City, average daily highs run from 29.7 °C in January to 32.8 °C in May. Rain averages 55.6 mm in April and 210.6 mm in July. January and February are the only months both 30 °C or under and under 150 mm of rain.

Climate normals 1991–2020, Mactan International Airport Cebu (WMO 98646), PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), WMO Climate Normals 1991–2020 via NOAA NCEI. Checked 16 October 2026

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Sources

Where each figure comes from.

Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.

  1. [N1] Cebu City: population, Philippine Statistics Authority (2024 Census of Population, reference date 1 July 2024), as compiled by City Population (citypopulation.de, a private site); psa.gov.ph refused automated access (HTTP 403). Checked 16 October 2026. Cebu City (a highly urbanized city) 965,332 people on 1 July 2024 (964,169 in 2020). Wikipedia gives the same 2024 figure. It counts Cebu City itself, not the wider Metro Cebu area (the same site lists a Cebu urban agglomeration of 2,581,824 in 2024). Coordinates 10.29 N, 123.90 E are from the Wikipedia article on Cebu City.
  2. [Cebu S1] Cebu International School, Cebu International School. Checked 16 October 2026. School's own site, read 16 October 2026: Pit-os, Cebu City; Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes ("the first IB continuum school in Philippines"); Diploma authorized since 1999; "20+ nationalities represented".
  3. [P2] Contact Us (head office and satellite offices), Philippine Retirement Authority. Checked 16 October 2026. Head office: 29/F BDO Towers Valero, Paseo de Roxas, Makati City. Satellite offices: North Luzon, Unit 8, Nevada Square Bldg. 3, 2 Loakan Road, Baguio; Central Luzon, Savers Mall Bldg., Best Western Plus Metro Clark Hotel, McArthur Highway, Balibago, Angeles City, Pampanga; Visayas, 2QUAD Bldg., Cebu Business Park, Cardinal Rosales Ave, Cebu City; Mindanao, Plaza de Luisa Building, Ramon Magsaysay Avenue, Davao City. The page lists no office in Dumaguete or Siargao.
  4. [G1] The World Factbook: Philippines (People and Society), Central Intelligence Agency (text read from the factbook.json mirror on GitHub; cia.gov refused automated access). Checked 16 October 2026. Major urban areas (2023): Manila 14.667 million, Davao 1.949 million, Cebu City 1.025 million, Zamboanga 931,000, Antipolo 960,000, Cagayan de Oro 803,000, Dasmarinas 803,000. The mirror's text was not checked against cia.gov.
  5. [W1] Climate normals 1991–2020, Mactan International Airport Cebu (WMO 98646), PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), WMO Climate Normals 1991–2020 via NOAA NCEI. Checked 16 October 2026. Mactan airport, about 10 km east of Cebu City across the channel. Mean daily highs (°C): January 29.7, February 30.0, March 31.0, April 32.2, May 32.8, June 32.3, July 31.6, August 31.9, September 31.9, October 31.4, November 31.0, December 30.3. Rainfall (mm): 135.1, 88.9, 60.9, 55.6, 94.4, 180.8, 210.6, 158.2, 190.4, 207.6, 131, 172. Comfortable (18 to 30 °C and under 150 mm): January, February (2 months). Station at 10°19′N, 123°57′E, 24.3 m.
  6. [P1] Geographic Concentration of SRRV Holders in the Philippines (public data feed behind the page), Philippine Retirement Authority. Checked 16 October 2026. Read 16 October 2026 from the data the page loads (pra.gov.ph/cms/whereabouts/public). Approximate numbers of Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) holders by region, rounded, with no as-of date given: National Capital Region 12,500; CALABARZON 7,200; Central Luzon 5,400; Central Visayas 4,200; Western Visayas 3,500; Davao Region 3,100; Northern Mindanao 2,800; Bicol 2,600; Ilocos 2,300; MIMAROPA 2,100; Eastern Visayas 1,900; Cagayan Valley 1,800; SOCCSKSARGEN 1,700; Zamboanga Peninsula 1,500; Caraga 1,300; Cordillera 1,200; Bangsamoro 100; "Others" 15,700 (the regions and "Others" add to 70,900). In the National Capital Region: Quezon City 2,200, Manila 1,500, Makati 1,100, Pasig 950, Taguig 900, Parañaque 850. Counts are for regions and Metro Manila cities only; no other city is listed.
  7. [C1] Price level index (GDP), Philippines, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 33.16 (United States = 100), read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
  8. [Philippines S1] Global Peace Index 2026, overall rank, Institute for Economics and Peace. Checked 15 October 2026. The Philippines ranks 102nd of 163 countries.
  9. [H1] UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1), World Health Organization. Checked 15 October 2026. The Philippines: 69 out of 100 (2023).
  10. [K1] Executive Order No. 86: Authorizing the issuance of Digital Nomad Visa, Office of the President of the Philippines (text hosted by The Lawphil Project, Arellano Law Foundation; the Official Gazette refused automated access). Checked 16 October 2026. Signed 24 April 2025. Lets the Department of Foreign Affairs issue Digital Nomad Visas for up to one year, renewable, to people aged 18 or over who show proof of remote work, "sufficient income" earned outside the Philippines (no amount), no criminal record and health insurance, from countries that offer such visas to Filipinos. Section 7 gave the Department 30 days to issue implementing guidelines.
  11. [K3] Welcome to the Philippine Visa Online Portal (PH Visa Policy), Department of Foreign Affairs, Office of Consular Affairs (eVisaPH). Checked 16 October 2026. Lists the types of Philippine visa: 9(a) temporary visitor visas (a-1 to a-8) and visa-free entry for 30 days for nationals of listed countries, which include the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The page names no Digital Nomad Visa.
  12. [K4] Philippines Digital Nomad Visa 2026: Status & Reality, LiveInPH (private relocation guide, not official). Checked 16 October 2026. Says that on 15 October 2026 the Digital Nomad Visa was "created in law, not operational": the implementing guidelines were not published, no fee or country list had been set, and the visa was not among the options on the Department of Foreign Affairs e-visa portal. We confirmed the portal part on the portal itself (K3); the rest rests on this guide.
  13. [K2] Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Philippines, International Telecommunication Union, via the World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2024: 7.14 per 100 people, read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
  14. [R1] Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV), Philippine Retirement Authority. Checked 16 October 2026. Page read 16 October 2026. SRRV Classic: principal applicants aged 40 and over; visa deposit USD 15,000 (pensioner, 50 and over), USD 30,000 (non-pensioner, 50 and over), USD 25,000 (pensioner, 40 to 49) or USD 50,000 (non-pensioner, 40 to 49); a lifetime pension of at least USD 800 a month (USD 1,000 with dependents) for pensioners; PRA processing fee USD 1,500; annual fee USD 360. Benefits listed include "permanent residency in the Philippines" and "multiple entry and indefinite stay", and exemption from separate work or student permits. The page lists no maximum age.
  15. [F1] EF English Proficiency Index 2025: Philippines, EF Education First (private test-taker index). Checked 16 October 2026. Score 569, rank 28 of 123 countries and regions (read on the page on 16 October 2026; the page does not print a proficiency-band word); the 2026 edition was not yet published on 15 October 2026.

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