Cost of Living Comparison Between Baia Mare and Cebu Cost of Living Comparison Between Baia Mare and Cebu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $876 in Baia Mare versus $879 in Cebu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,406 in Baia Mare versus $1,347 in Cebu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,937 in Baia Mare versus $1,815 in Cebu.

Monthly costs are close between Baia Mare and Cebu; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baia Mare 34% lower, Cebu 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baia Mare
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.38 RON 42.66
$4.34 ₱266
116.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.06 RON 168
$23.95 ₱1,466
54.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.10 RON 32.26
$4.48 ₱274
58.48%
Cappuccino
$2.11 RON 9.59
$2.58 ₱158
-18.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 RON 8.26
$0.78 ₱47.91
133.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 RON 5.85
$0.45 ₱27.71
186.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.60 RON 7.25
$1.52 ₱93.0
5.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 RON 10.02
$2.15 ₱131
2.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baia Mare
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 RON 6.79
$2.31 ₱142
-35.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 RON 5.54
$1.53 ₱93.4
-20.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 RON 6.91
$1.17 ₱71.9
29.91%
Eggs
$3.34 RON 15.17
$2.35 ₱144
42.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.49 RON 34.04
$12.68 ₱776
-40.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.93 RON 26.96
$5.26 ₱322
12.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.71 RON 39.61
$7.88 ₱482
10.53%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 RON 5.48
$3.48 ₱213
-65.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 RON 7.25
$1.46 ₱89.5
9.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 RON 7.63
$3.32 ₱203
-49.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 RON 9.62
$2.27 ₱139
-6.61%
Potato (1kg)
$0.77 RON 3.49
$2.66 ₱163
-71.05%
Onion (1kg)
$0.94 RON 4.29
$2.45 ₱150
-61.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 RON 4.59
$0.93 ₱56.8
8.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 RON 3.60
$0.79 ₱48.49
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.20 RON 23.66
$3.12 ₱191
66.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.05 RON 22.96
$6.37 ₱390
-20.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 RON 4.53
$1.19 ₱73.0
-15.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 RON 8.47
$2.25 ₱138
-17.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Baia Mare
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.71 RON 3.22
$0.26 ₱15.91
173.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.15 RON 73.4
$14.85 ₱909
8.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 RON 3.29
$0.87 ₱53.1
-17.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.87 RON 3.95
$0.23 ₱14.04
278.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.37 RON 42.61
$2.70 ₱165
247.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 RON 6.94
$1.11 ₱67.8
37.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K RON 127.3K
$30.0K ₱1.8M
-6.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K RON 119.0K
$26.8K ₱1.6M
-2.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baia Mare
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$114 RON 520
$96.9 ₱5,928
18.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.42 RON 38.28
$34.35 ₱2,103
-75.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.49 RON 52.2
$29.65 ₱1,815
-61.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baia Mare
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.7 RON 235
$33.03 ₱2,022
56.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99 RON 95.4
$8.50 ₱520
146.94%
Cinema Ticket
$6.97 RON 31.69
$5.82 ₱356
19.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baia Mare
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$435 RON 1,979
$227 ₱13.9K
91.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,894 RON 31.3K
$3,968 ₱242.9K
73.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baia Mare
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 RON 247
$53.3 ₱3,263
1.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.93 RON 177
$23.14 ₱1,417
68.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.9 RON 309
$74.7 ₱4,570
-9.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.3 RON 420
$54.5 ₱3,336
69.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baia Mare
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$284 RON 1,292
$515 ₱31.5K
-44.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$207 RON 943
$217 ₱13.3K
-4.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$537 RON 2,443
$785 ₱48.1K
-31.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$401 RON 1,823
$388 ₱23.8K
3.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,106 RON 9,574
$2,908 ₱178.0K
-27.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,463 RON 6,651
$1,911 ₱117.0K
-23.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baia Mare
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$898 RON 4,081
$346 ₱21.2K
159.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
8
-18.75%

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

Last update for Baia Mare: July 27, 2026

Last update for Cebu: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Baia Mare and $515 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baia Mare pays 160% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $37.00 in Baia Mare vs $24.00 in Cebu. Groceries flip the comparison at $194 vs $241, with Baia Mare cheaper for home cooking.

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
Baia Mare vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you earn more: Baia Mare or Cebu?
Average pay runs 160% higher in Baia Mare, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Baia Mare and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $284 in Baia Mare versus $515 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Baia Mare runs roughly 9% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do food prices compare in Baia Mare and in Cebu?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Baia Mare or in Cebu?
At $876 in Baia Mare versus $879 in Cebu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Baia Mare but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Baia Mare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Baia Mare or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Baia Mare is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cebu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Baia Mare or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Baia Mare and Cebu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Baia Mare wins on affordability, Cebu on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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