For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $1,644 in Beirut, rent and utilities included – about $8,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Beirut and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,644 in Beirut versus $934 in Cebu.
Beirut $1,644
Cebu $934
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,637 in Beirut versus $1,415 in Cebu.
Beirut $2,637
Cebu $1,415
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,629 in Beirut versus $1,896 in Cebu.
Beirut $3,629
Cebu $1,896
🌍
Living in Beirut is roughly 76% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Beirut is 23% above, Cebu is 30% below.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Beirut
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14LBP 1.1M
$3.03₱190
300.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1LBP 6.3M
$23.48₱1,473
198.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.84LBP 880.6K
$4.09₱256
140.59%
Cappuccino
$4.45LBP 398.4K
$2.52₱158
76.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39LBP 214.0K
$1.54₱96.9
55.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90LBP 80.7K
$0.49₱30.98
83.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.86LBP 435.3K
$1.79₱112
171.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.83LBP 432.7K
$2.26₱142
113.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beirut
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00LBP 179.3K
$1.95₱122
2.56%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84LBP 75.2K
$1.43₱89.7
-41.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.34LBP 209.4K
$1.02₱63.8
129.41%
Eggs
$3.55LBP 318.0K
$2.06₱129
72.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.02LBP 986.7K
$9.81₱615
12.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.76LBP 963.3K
$4.61₱289
133.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.62LBP 1.3M
$7.70₱483
89.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13LBP 280.3K
$3.31₱207
-5.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71LBP 153.0K
$1.45₱90.9
17.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.68LBP 150.7K
$2.36₱148
-28.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52LBP 135.7K
$1.54₱96.4
-1.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24LBP 111.2K
$2.36₱148
-47.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.59LBP 142.4K
$1.99₱125
-20.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21LBP 108.6K
$1.15₱72.1
5.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68LBP 61.1K
$0.67₱42.15
1.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06LBP 273.5K
$3.00₱188
2.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.91LBP 976.2K
$6.35₱398
71.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33LBP 119.2K
$1.31₱81.9
1.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59LBP 232.0K
$1.73₱108
49.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Beirut
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.26LBP 202.7K
$0.25₱15.78
804.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$76.0LBP 6.8M
$12.65₱793
500.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.93LBP 441.5K
$0.74₱46.32
566.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.20LBP 196.6K
$0.21₱13.11
947.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.38LBP 2.0M
$4.33₱271
416.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05LBP 93.6K
$1.33₱83.5
-21.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.0KLBP 4.8B
$21.8K₱1.4M
148.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8KLBP 2.9B
$19.4K₱1.2M
68.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beirut
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$231LBP 20.6M
$121₱7,563
91.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.10LBP 2.0M
$14.45₱907
52.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.83LBP 3.4M
$28.29₱1,774
33.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beirut
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$85.5LBP 7.7M
$32.68₱2,050
161.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.08LBP 3.1M
$6.39₱401
433.33%
Cinema Ticket
$10.02LBP 896.8K
$5.46₱342
83.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beirut
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$678LBP 60.7M
$273₱17.1K
147.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6KLBP 951.6M
$8,156₱511.5K
30.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beirut
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.5LBP 6.0M
$49.57₱3,109
34.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.54LBP 4.3M
$24.87₱1,560
95.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138LBP 12.3M
$76.6₱4,804
79.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118LBP 10.6M
$59.3₱3,717
99.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beirut
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$944LBP 84.5M
$506₱31.7K
86.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$488LBP 43.7M
$309₱19.4K
57.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,203LBP 197.2M
$1,052₱66.0K
109.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,059LBP 94.8M
$619₱38.8K
71.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,927LBP 351.5M
$2,915₱182.9K
34.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,848LBP 165.4M
$1,867₱117.1K
-1.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beirut
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$703LBP 62.9M
$341₱21.4K
106.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
7.2
52.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beirut: October 3, 2026
Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Beirut
$488 29.5%
Cebu
$309 33.5% ↓ 36.6%$179
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beirut
$291 17.6%
Cebu
$163 17.7% ↓ 43.8%$127
🛒Groceries & Markets
Beirut
$277 16.7%
Cebu
$210 22.7% ↓ 23.9%$66
🍽Eating Out
Beirut
$227 13.7%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↓ 61.1%$139
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Beirut
$167 10.1%
Cebu
$95 10.2% ↓ 43.3%$72
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Beirut
$106 6.4%
Cebu
$44 4.7% ↓ 58.7%$62
🚌Getting Around
Beirut
$101 6.1%
Cebu
$15 1.7% ↓ 84.7%$86
🏠Accommodation & Living
Beirut
$1.1K 29%
Cebu
$619 32.4% ↓ 41.5%$440
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beirut
$313 8.6%
Cebu
$178 9.3% ↓ 43.2%$135
🛒Groceries & Markets
Beirut
$648 17.8%
Cebu
$493 25.8% ↓ 24%$156
🍽Eating Out
Beirut
$803 22%
Cebu
$288 15.1% ↓ 64.1%$515
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Beirut
$371 10.2%
Cebu
$210 11% ↓ 43.3%$160
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Beirut
$245 6.7%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↓ 61.8%$152
🚌Getting Around
Beirut
$206 5.7%
Cebu
$31 1.6% ↓ 84.8%$175
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $944 in Beirut and $506 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Beirut pays 106% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Beirut vs $23.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $210 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.
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
Beirut vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Beirut?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 76% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Beirut or Cebu?
Average pay runs 106% higher in Beirut, 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 Beirut and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $944 in Beirut versus $506 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Beirut and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $1,644 per month in Beirut versus $934 in Cebu – a 76% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Cebu runs roughly 501% less than in Beirut. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Beirut or in Cebu?
At $934 in Cebu versus $1,644 in Beirut, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Beirut. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Beirut or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Beirut, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Beirut or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Beirut 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.