A studio is the cheapest way into a new Cebu condominium: most studio units on our project pages start at 20–24 sqm, and half of the priced studio types are listed between roughly ₱3 million and ₱5.3 million (as of 3 October 2026). The trade-off is that everything — sleeping, cooking, eating, working and storage — happens in one room with usually one window wall, so a studio suits one person, or a couple with few belongings, far better than anyone who works from home or plans to grow a household.
Key points
- In a typical 20 sqm plan, the open “bed area” is only about 13 sqm; the rest is the toilet and bath and a kitchen strip by the door.
- A balcony usually adds outdoor area, not interior space. Compare the room-by-room areas on the plan, not just the total.
- Most studios have windows on one side only. Check where the kitchen sits relative to the window and whether there is an exhaust.
- Budget separately for furniture, appliances and monthly association dues — none are usually in the list price.
How big Cebu studios really are
We extracted every studio unit type for Cebu projects from our listing data (excluding sold-out projects and duplicate entries). That gives 83 studio unit types in 63 projects, 80 of them with a stated size:
| Smallest stated size | Studio unit types |
|---|---|
| Under 20 sqm (18–19 sqm) | 7 |
| 20 to under 24 sqm | 44 |
| 24 to under 28 sqm | 16 |
| 28 sqm or more | 13 |
Source: PropertEase project pages as recorded on 3 October 2026. Where a size range is given, the lower figure is used. Sizes are as published by developers; some include balconies.
Listed-from prices for the 71 priced studio types run from ₱1.45 million (an 18–23 sqm studio at La Bellezah Flats in Liloan) to around ₱9 million in premium central towers, with a middle value of ₱4 million. These are developer list prices recorded on our pages; price lists change, so ask for a dated computation. For a unit-by-unit list of what is actually listed at the lower end, see condos under ₱3 million and under ₱5 million.
Before comparing sizes, ask what each figure includes. The developer plan for a 28.04 sqm studio at The Persimmon in Mabolo counts a 4.13 sqm balcony, leaving 23.91 sqm inside. The Highline by Avenir’s brochure gives its studio as 22.01 sqm, or slightly more if the pipe chase is counted. Two “24 sqm” studios can differ by several square metres of usable floor.
What a 20 sqm studio holds once furnished
The typical studio plan on our Casa Mira Guadalupe page (20.00 sqm) breaks down as 3.10 sqm kitchen/dining, 3.80 sqm toilet and bath and a 13.10 sqm bed area. The kitchen is a single counter beside the entrance; the only window is on the far wall.
Place a queen bed (1.52 × 2.03 m, about 3.09 sqm), a two-seat sofa (1.5 × 0.8 m), a 1.2 m wardrobe (0.6 m deep) and a 1 m desk in that 13.10 sqm bed area. Together they cover about 5.51 sqm, or 42% of the floor, leaving about 7.6 sqm — most of which is the walkway between the door, the bed and the window. Swap the queen for a double bed (1.37 × 1.91 m) and you recover only about half a square metre.
In practice this means choosing: a bed and a proper work desk, or a bed and a sofa, but rarely all three without the room feeling crowded. Measure your own furniture against the plan before you reserve, and ask for the plan with dimensions rather than the furnished marketing render.
Storage, laundry and the things plans leave out
- Built-in storage: many studio plans show no closet at all. If none is drawn, assume you will buy a wardrobe and lose floor area to it.
- Laundry: some plans mark a washing-machine space near the door (Balai Mandaue Central’s studio plan does); others show none. Ask where a washer can go and where clothes can be dried — balcony-drying rules are set by each building’s house rules.
- Air-conditioner position: look for the AC ledge or sleeve on the plan. It fixes where the unit goes, which in turn affects where the bed can sit.
- Kitchen ventilation: a kitchen by the corridor door is far from the only window. Ask whether a range hood or exhaust fan is included and where it vents.
- Toilet and bath: check that it has its own exhaust fan; in a single-window studio, bathroom humidity has nowhere else to go.
Balcony or no balcony: what you are paying for
Several projects list a studio with and without a balcony. Comparing the two is the clearest way to see what a balcony costs:
| Project | Studio | With balcony | Difference | Per added sqm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casa Mira Guadalupe | 20 sqm · ₱2.8M | 23.45 sqm · ₱3.1M | +3.45 sqm · ₱300,000 | ≈ ₱87,000 |
| Casa Mira Mandaue | 20.13 sqm · ₱3.5M+ | 23.31 sqm · ₱4.1M+ | +3.18 sqm · ₱600,000 | ≈ ₱189,000 |
| West Jones Residences | 22 sqm · ₱4.1M | 25.6 sqm · ₱4.9M | +3.6 sqm · ₱800,000 | ≈ ₱222,000 |
Listed-from prices on our project pages as of 3 October 2026. A higher price can also reflect floor level, view or position in the tower, so compare the specific units offered.
On the Casa Mira Guadalupe plans, the kitchen, bath and bed areas are identical in both versions — the extra ₱300,000 buys a 3.45 sqm balcony behind a sliding door. Whether that is worth it depends on what you would use it for: a second source of light and air in a single-aspect room, a place for plants or a chair, possibly laundry if house rules allow. It does not make the room larger.
Who a studio suits — and who it doesn’t
| Usually works for | Usually a struggle for |
|---|---|
| One person, or a couple who eat out often and own little | Anyone taking work calls daily from home — there is no door to close |
| A city base for owners who live mainly in the province or abroad | Households with a child, a helper or a relative staying over |
| Students and single professionals near their campus or office | People who cook most meals — the kitchen is a counter in the bedroom |
| A first purchase where the lower price matters most | Buyers expecting to grow into the unit over many years |
If you plan to lease the unit, a studio’s tenant pool is mostly single renters, which makes the building’s location relative to campuses and offices the deciding factor. We do not publish rent assumptions here; run your own numbers with the rental yield guide.
Costs beyond the price: furnishing and dues
Most pre-selling studios are turned over bare or with basic fixtures; check the inclusion list. A minimal setup might look like this:
Bed frame and mattress ₱15,000–₱40,000; air-conditioner with installation ₱20,000–₱45,000; refrigerator ₱12,000–₱30,000; cooktop with hood or exhaust ₱5,000–₱20,000; sofa bed or lounge chair ₱8,000–₱25,000; dining table for two ₱5,000–₱15,000; wardrobe or shelving ₱8,000–₱30,000; curtains, lighting and fans ₱8,000–₱20,000; kitchenware, linens and small appliances ₱10,000–₱25,000. Total: about ₱91,000 to ₱250,000, before any custom cabinetry.
Association dues are usually charged per square metre of floor area each month, so a studio’s small size keeps them low in absolute terms. Rates differ by building and change over time; ask the developer for the estimated rate and what it covers.
| Assumed dues rate (per sqm per month) | 20 sqm | 24.8 sqm | 28 sqm |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₱60 | ₱1,200 | ₱1,488 | ₱1,680 |
| ₱90 | ₱1,800 | ₱2,232 | ₱2,520 |
| ₱120 | ₱2,400 | ₱2,976 | ₱3,360 |
Rates are assumptions for illustration. Ask whether a balcony is included in the billable area. Electricity, water, internet and parking are separate.
Taxes and transfer fees come on top as well — see our closing cost calculator for a rough estimate.
Studio examples with plans and listed prices
These four illustrate different studio formats and price points. Each has unit or brochure plans on our project page unless stated; prices are listed-from figures as of 3 October 2026 and may have changed.
Dividing each listed-from price by its stated size shows how much location, finish and readiness move the price of the same unit type: roughly ₱140,000 per sqm for the Casa Mira Guadalupe studio, ₱186,000 at West Jones, ₱214,000 at Taft East Gate and ₱271,000 at Horizons 101. Treat these as rough indicators — the listed price and the stated size may not belong to the same unit.
Questions to settle before reserving a studio
- Does the stated area include a balcony, AC ledge or pipe chase? What is the interior floor area alone?
- Which way does the window face, and what will be built next door? In a single-aspect unit, that view is all the light you get.
- Where do the washer, the AC unit and the range hood go, and are any included?
- What are the estimated association dues per sqm, and when do they start?
- Is parking available to studio owners at all, and at what separate price?
- Would a one-bedroom in the same building cost much more? Compare with our one-bedroom guide before deciding the extra room isn’t worth it.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a typical studio condo in Cebu?
Among the 80 Cebu studio unit types with a stated size on our project pages (as of 3 October 2026), 44 start between 20 and 24 sqm and the middle value is about 22 sqm. The smallest start at 18 sqm and a few larger studios reach the high 30s. Always ask whether the stated area includes the balcony, air-conditioner ledge or pipe chase.
Can two people live comfortably in a studio?
It depends on how much you own and how you use the space. In a 20 sqm plan with a 13.1 sqm bed area, a queen bed, a small sofa, a wardrobe and a desk already cover about 42% of that area before walkways. Couples who cook, work from home or keep many belongings usually find a one-bedroom easier.
Is a studio with a balcony worth the higher price?
Check what you are paying for. At Casa Mira Guadalupe the studio and the studio with balcony have the same interior areas on the floor plans; the balcony adds 3.45 sqm outdoors for a ₱300,000 higher listed price. That buys outdoor space, a door to open for air and light, and somewhere for plants — not more room inside. Ask the building’s house rules before assuming you can dry laundry there.
Does the studio price include furniture, parking or VAT?
Our listing data does not record inclusions for most projects, so ask for the developer’s computation sheet. Parking is usually a separate purchase. Under BIR Revenue Regulations No. 1-2024, sales of residential dwellings up to ₱3.6 million are VAT-exempt; above that the developer may add VAT, so confirm whether a quoted price is VAT-inclusive.
Compare two studio plans side by side
Send us the studios you are weighing. We will put the floor plans, interior and balcony areas, current list prices and a dated payment computation next to each other, and flag what the price leaves out.
Compare studios with us WhatsApp +63 917 550 8229Sources and notes
- PropertEase project pages — unit sizes, list prices and floor plans — sizes and listed-from prices for every project named here come from our project pages as recorded on 3 October 2026; developer price lists change
- Cebu Landmasters — Casa Mira Towers Guadalupe — developer and location (V. Rama Ave. cor. Quijada St., Guadalupe, Cebu City); accessed 5 October 2026
- SunStar Cebu — Vibo Land enters condo business (20 Oct 2019) — West Jones Residences: Vibo Land Corp., 15 storeys, 307 units, Uytengsu St., Sambag II; completion was then targeted for 2020
- Taft Properties — Horizons 101 and East Gate project pages — developer, address and handover features; East Gate page: https://taftproperties.com.ph/project/east-gate; accessed 5 October 2026
- BIR Revenue Regulations No. 1-2024 — VAT exemption threshold of ₱3,600,000 for sales of residential dwellings from 1 January 2024
- Illustration and assumptions — furniture dimensions, furnishing costs and association-dues rates are assumptions for illustration only, not quotes; price-per-sqm figures divide a listed-from price by a stated size and may not refer to the same unit