For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $2,466 in Bodo, rent and utilities included – about $18,600 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 Bodo and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,466 per month in Bodo vs $918 in Cebu, rent included.
Bodo $2,466
Cebu $918
A couple spends around $3,975 per month in Bodo vs $1,409 in Cebu, rent included.
Bodo $3,975
Cebu $1,409
A family of three spends $5,483 per month in Bodo vs $1,900 in Cebu, rent included.
Bodo $5,483
Cebu $1,900
😐
Bodo costs about 169% more than Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Bodo sits 83% above the global median, while Cebu is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Bodo
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.67NOK 223
$3.09₱195
666.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$128NOK 1,202
$24.22₱1,525
427.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$23.87NOK 225
$3.92₱247
508.93%
Cappuccino
$6.34NOK 59.7
$2.51₱158
152.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48NOK 42.14
$1.59₱100
181.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22NOK 30.30
$0.53₱33.45
507.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.06NOK 114
$1.78₱112
577.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$15.06NOK 142
$2.17₱137
594.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bodo
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.42NOK 22.76
$1.92₱121
26.04%
White Bread(500g)
$4.15NOK 39.05
$1.36₱85.5
205.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.10NOK 38.57
$1.01₱63.6
305.94%
Eggs
$5.25NOK 49.45
$2.03₱128
158.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.30NOK 116
$9.86₱621
24.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$19.38NOK 182
$4.39₱277
341.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.68NOK 204
$7.60₱479
185.26%
Apples(1kg)
$3.53NOK 33.21
$3.30₱208
6.97%
Banana(1kg)
$2.75NOK 25.90
$1.39₱87.8
97.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.59NOK 43.19
$2.33₱147
97.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.28NOK 59.1
$1.50₱94.3
318.67%
Potato(1kg)
$3.10NOK 29.19
$2.36₱149
31.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.97NOK 27.97
$1.90₱119
56.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.97NOK 28.00
$1.19₱74.9
149.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51NOK 23.59
$0.63₱39.73
298.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.41NOK 136
$3.00₱189
380.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.21NOK 190
$6.03₱380
235.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.81NOK 35.83
$1.23₱77.7
209.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76NOK 44.78
$1.75₱110
172.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Bodo
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.67NOK 43.92
$0.25₱15.87
1768.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.0NOK 678
$12.64₱796
469.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.65NOK 90.8
$0.77₱48.64
1153.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71NOK 16.14
$0.23₱14.54
643.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$4.46₱281
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25NOK 21.19
$1.31₱82.8
71.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.2K₱1.3M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$19.1K₱1.2M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bodo
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176NOK 1,654
$120₱7,573
46.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.89NOK 385
$14.00₱882
192.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.7NOK 638
$27.54₱1,735
145.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bodo
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.58NOK 467
$32.33₱2,036
53.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.65₱419
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.59NOK 128
$5.65₱356
140.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bodo
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$246NOK 2,315
$275₱17.3K
-10.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$7,918₱498.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bodo
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.0NOK 848
$49.33₱3,107
82.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.9NOK 488
$25.24₱1,590
105.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106NOK 999
$77.0₱4,848
37.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$57.2₱3,603
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bodo
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,171NOK 11.0K
$500₱31.5K
134.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$915NOK 8,610
$309₱19.5K
196.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,219NOK 20.9K
$1,078₱67.9K
105.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,822NOK 17.2K
$615₱38.8K
196.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,310NOK 59.4K
$2,886₱181.8K
118.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,917₱120.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bodo
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,510NOK 33.0K
$346₱21.8K
914.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.67
7.2
-35.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bodo: October 10, 2026
Last update for Cebu: October 12, 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
Bodo
$915 37.1%
Cebu
$309 33.6% ↓ 66.2%$606
🛒Groceries & Markets
Bodo
$512 20.8%
Cebu
$206 22.4% ↓ 59.8%$306
🍽Eating Out
Bodo
$458 18.6%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↓ 80.7%$370
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bodo
$284 11.5%
Cebu
$162 17.6% ↓ 43.1%$123
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Bodo
$112 * 4.5%
Cebu
$94 10.2% ↓ 15.8%$18
🚌Getting Around
Bodo
$109 4.4%
Cebu
$16 1.7% ↓ 85.7%$93
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Bodo
$77 3.1%
Cebu
$44 4.8% ↓ 43.2%$33
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Bodo
$1.8K 33.2%
Cebu
$615 32.4% ↓ 66.2%$1.2K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Bodo
$1.2K 21.3%
Cebu
$483 25.4% ↓ 58.7%$685
🍽Eating Out
Bodo
$1.5K 28.1%
Cebu
$292 15.4% ↓ 81%$1.2K
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bodo
$325 5.9%
Cebu
$176 9.3% ↓ 46%$149
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Bodo
$248 * 4.5%
Cebu
$209 11% ↓ 15.8%$39
🚌Getting Around
Bodo
$227 4.1%
Cebu
$32 1.7% ↓ 86.1%$195
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Bodo
$154 * 2.8%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↓ 38.8%$60
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,171 in Bodo versus $500 in Cebu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 915% higher in Bodo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $128 in Bodo versus $24.00 in Cebu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $512 vs $206 – making Cebu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Bodo vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bodo or Cebu?
Bodo costs about 169% more than Cebu, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bodo and in Cebu?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,700 per month in Bodo and $1,377 in Cebu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bodo or Cebu?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Bodo compared to Cebu?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,466 in Bodo and $918 in Cebu. That's a gap of about 169%.
How expensive is transport in Bodo compared to Cebu?
Public transport costs about 470% less in Cebu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bodo or in Cebu?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cebu, where all-in costs run around $918, than in Bodo at $2,466. In Cebu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bodo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bodo or Cebu?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cebu costs $918 versus $2,466 in Bodo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bodo compared to 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.
Should I move to Bodo or to Cebu?
If budget matters most, go with Cebu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bodo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.