Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Buchs and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $915 a month against $3,009 in Buchs, rent and utilities included – about $25,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Buchs
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,009
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$915
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Buchs 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 Buchs and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,009 in Buchs versus $915 in Cebu.

  • Buchs $3,009
  • Cebu $915

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,535 in Buchs versus $1,418 in Cebu.

  • Buchs $4,535
  • Cebu $1,418

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,062 in Buchs versus $1,921 in Cebu.

  • Buchs $6,062
  • Cebu $1,921

Living in Buchs is roughly 229% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Buchs is 122% above, Cebu is 33% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buchs
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.43 CHF 19.30
$3.05 ₱192
668.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.3 CHF 69.4
$24.00 ₱1,511
251.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.36 CHF 12.65
$3.99 ₱251
284.96%
Cappuccino
$4.71 CHF 3.88
$2.50 ₱157
88.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77 CHF 3.10
$1.54 ₱97.1
144.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 CHF 2.63
$0.50 ₱31.37
540.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 CHF 5.04
$1.78 ₱112
244.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.39 CHF 4.44
$2.17 ₱136
148.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buchs
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.01 CHF 1.66
$2.00 ₱126
0.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.94 CHF 3.24
$1.37 ₱86.2
187.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.64 CHF 3.82
$1.03 ₱64.9
350.49%
Eggs
$7.32 CHF 6.03
$2.03 ₱128
260.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$32.21 CHF 26.53
$10.20 ₱642
215.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.51 CHF 15.24
$4.45 ₱280
315.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$32.47 CHF 26.74
$7.67 ₱483
323.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.53 CHF 2.91
$3.31 ₱208
6.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 CHF 1.76
$1.46 ₱91.8
46.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.14 CHF 2.59
$2.32 ₱146
35.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.70 CHF 5.52
$1.49 ₱94.0
349.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 CHF 1.46
$2.34 ₱147
-23.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.54 CHF 2.10
$1.94 ₱122
30.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.44 CHF 2.01
$1.16 ₱73.0
110.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 CHF 1.00
$0.68 ₱42.89
77.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.84 CHF 8.92
$2.99 ₱188
262.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.70 CHF 10.46
$6.24 ₱393
103.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.28 CHF 2.70
$1.23 ₱77.3
166.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 CHF 3.22
$1.73 ₱109
126.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Buchs
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.17 CHF 4.25
$0.23 ₱14.36
2147.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$12.34 ₱777
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 CHF 4.42
$0.79 ₱49.96
578.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.46 CHF 2.85
$0.22 ₱13.86
1472.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$61.2 CHF 50.4
$4.54 ₱286
1247.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.23 CHF 1.83
$1.32 ₱82.9
68.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.5K CHF 35.0K
$21.0K ₱1.3M
102.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K CHF 32.6K
$19.4K ₱1.2M
103.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buchs
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 CHF 152
$119 ₱7,464
55.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.24 CHF 25.73
$14.22 ₱896
119.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.2 CHF 55.4
$27.47 ₱1,730
144.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buchs
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$32.31 ₱2,034
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.50 ₱409
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.20 CHF 12.52
$5.40 ₱340
181.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buchs
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$611 CHF 503
$276 ₱17.4K
121.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.7K CHF 17.0K
$7,866 ₱495.3K
162.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buchs
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107 CHF 88.0
$49.37 ₱3,108
116.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.70 CHF 19.52
$24.58 ₱1,548
-3.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 CHF 78.4
$76.6 ₱4,825
24.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170 CHF 140
$58.9 ₱3,706
188.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buchs
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,828 CHF 1,505
$503 ₱31.7K
263.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,561 CHF 1,285
$305 ₱19.2K
412.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,690 CHF 2,216
$1,075 ₱67.7K
150.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,746 CHF 2,261
$632 ₱39.8K
334.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,870 ₱180.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,877 ₱118.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buchs
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,480 CHF 6,984
$336 ₱21.1K
2424.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.93
7.2
-73.19%

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

Last update for Buchs: October 18, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Buchs
$1.6K
Cebu
$305 80.5% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Buchs
$555
Cebu
$210 62.2% $345
Eating Out
Buchs
$359
Cebu
$88 75.6% $272
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buchs
$283
Cebu
$160 43.4% $123
Clothing & Footwear
Buchs
$178
Cebu
$94 47% $84
Getting Around
Buchs
$43 *
Cebu
$15 65% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Buchs
$30 *
Cebu
$43 41.8% $13

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,828 in Buchs and $503 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buchs pays 2425% 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: $84.0 in Buchs vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $555 vs $210 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇭 Buchs
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
23:17 11:17 PM
05:17 5:17 AM
6 h ahead of Buchs
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,187
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to CHF – Swiss Franc Converter

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Buchs Cebu 10,940 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Buchs
  • 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
Buchs vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Buchs and in Cebu?
Buchs and Cebu differ by about 229% in total monthly costs ($3,009 vs $915 including rent). Cebu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Buchs or Cebu?
Average pay runs 2425% higher in Buchs, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Buchs and in Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,828 in Buchs versus $503 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Buchs and Cebu?
Childcare runs $611 in Buchs versus $276 in Cebu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Cebu – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $84.0 in Buchs. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $915 in Cebu versus $3,009 in Buchs, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Buchs. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Buchs and Cebu?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Buchs or Cebu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Buchs 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.
Where should expats move: Buchs or Cebu?
Expats usually find Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 229% less than in Buchs. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Buchs vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?