Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Akureyri and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $3,060 in Akureyri, rent and utilities included – about $25,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Akureyri
🇮🇸 Iceland
$3,060
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Akureyri and in Cebu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Akureyri and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,060 per month in Akureyri vs $934 in Cebu, rent included.

  • Akureyri $3,060
  • Cebu $934

A couple spends around $4,123 per month in Akureyri vs $1,415 in Cebu, rent included.

  • Akureyri $4,123
  • Cebu $1,415

A family of three spends $5,186 per month in Akureyri vs $1,896 in Cebu, rent included.

  • Akureyri $5,186
  • Cebu $1,896

Akureyri costs about 228% more than Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Akureyri sits 128% above the global median, while Cebu is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Akureyri
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.64 ISK 3,004
$3.03 ₱190
713.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$133 ISK 16.2K
$23.48 ₱1,473
466.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$22.95 ISK 2,799
$4.09 ₱256
461.12%
Cappuccino
$4.93 ISK 602
$2.52 ₱158
95.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 ISK 420
$1.54 ₱96.9
123.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 ISK 381
$0.49 ₱30.98
536.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.08 ISK 1,352
$1.79 ₱112
518.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.43 ISK 1,150
$2.26 ₱142
317.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Akureyri
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.77 ISK 338
$1.95 ₱122
42.05%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 ISK 280
$1.43 ₱89.7
60.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.18 ISK 388
$1.02 ₱63.8
211.76%
Eggs
$7.93 ISK 967
$2.06 ₱129
284.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.52 ISK 1,892
$9.81 ₱615
58.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.79 ISK 3,024
$4.61 ₱289
437.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$7.70 ₱483
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$3.31 ₱207
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.91 ISK 355
$1.45 ₱90.9
100.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.49 ISK 426
$2.36 ₱148
47.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.89 ISK 719
$1.54 ₱96.4
282.47%
Potato (1kg)
-
$2.36 ₱148
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.99 ₱125
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.15 ₱72.1
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.67 ₱42.15
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.61 ISK 1,660
$3.00 ₱188
353.67%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$6.35 ₱398
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.31 ₱81.9
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.73 ₱108
-
🚌 Getting Around
Akureyri
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.25 ₱15.78
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$12.65 ₱793
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.74 ₱46.32
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.21 ₱13.11
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.33 ₱271
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.52 ISK 307
$1.33 ₱83.5
89.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.1K ISK 5.0M
$21.8K ₱1.4M
88.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$66.4K ISK 8.1M
$19.4K ₱1.2M
242.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Akureyri
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ISK 15.1K
$121 ₱7,563
2.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.03 ISK 3,174
$14.45 ₱907
80.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$162 ISK 19.7K
$28.29 ₱1,774
471.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Akureyri
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$86.8 ISK 10.6K
$32.68 ₱2,050
165.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.39 ₱401
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.18 ISK 1,852
$5.46 ₱342
178.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Akureyri
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$364 ISK 44.3K
$273 ₱17.1K
32.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$8,156 ₱511.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Akureyri
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.6 ISK 10.1K
$49.57 ₱3,109
66.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$24.87 ₱1,560
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 ISK 15.0K
$76.6 ₱4,804
60.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$59.3 ₱3,717
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Akureyri
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,800 ISK 219.5K
$506 ₱31.7K
255.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,787 ISK 217.9K
$309 ₱19.4K
477.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,052 ₱66.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,153 ISK 262.6K
$619 ₱38.8K
247.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,605 ISK 805.5K
$2,915 ₱182.9K
126.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,467 ISK 788.7K
$1,867 ₱117.1K
246.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Akureyri
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$341 ₱21.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.4
7.2
30.56%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Akureyri: October 4, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Akureyri
–
Cebu
$309
Groceries & Markets
Akureyri
–
Cebu
$210
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Akureyri
–
Cebu
$163
Clothing & Footwear
Akureyri
–
Cebu
$95
Eating Out
Akureyri
–
Cebu
$88
Sport & Entertainment
Akureyri
–
Cebu
$44
Getting Around
Akureyri
–
Cebu
$15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,800 in Akureyri versus $506 in Cebu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $133 in Akureyri versus $23.00 in Cebu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $210 – making Cebu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Akureyri
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
11:16 11:16 AM
19:16 7:16 PM
8 h ahead of Akureyri
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
19,219
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 122 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.2 USD). 1 EUR = 137 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.32 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.28 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Akureyri Cebu 11,010 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Akureyri
  • Cebu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Akureyri vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Akureyri?
Yes – Akureyri is pricier by about 228%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,590 per month in Akureyri and $1,401 in Cebu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cebu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Akureyri or in Cebu?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $133 in Akureyri and $23.00 in Cebu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Akureyri and in Cebu?
Groceries cost about 55% more in Akureyri, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Akureyri or in Cebu?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cebu, where all-in costs run around $934, than in Akureyri at $3,060. In Cebu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Akureyri it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Akureyri or Cebu more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cebu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Akureyri or Cebu?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cebu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Akureyri makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Akureyri vs other spots: cost of living compared

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