For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,674 in Cantù, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 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 Cantù and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,674 in Cantù versus $918 in Cebu.
Cantù $1,674
Cebu $918
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,639 in Cantù versus $1,409 in Cebu.
Cantù $2,639
Cebu $1,409
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,605 in Cantù versus $1,900 in Cebu.
Cantù $3,605
Cebu $1,900
🌍
Living in Cantù is roughly 82% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Cantù is 24% above, Cebu is 32% below.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cantù
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.36€19.89
$3.09₱194
623.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.6€79.7
$24.22₱1,525
269.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.96€9.75
$3.92₱247
179.59%
Cappuccino
$1.78€1.58
$2.51₱158
-29.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.58
$1.59₱100
82.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63€1.45
$0.53₱33.43
207.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.74€5.10
$1.78₱112
222.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.16€5.48
$2.17₱137
183.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cantù
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37€1.22
$1.92₱121
-28.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.28€2.03
$1.36₱85.4
67.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.40€3.02
$1.01₱63.5
236.63%
Eggs
$4.18€3.72
$2.03₱128
105.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.92€13.27
$9.86₱621
51.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.81€11.39
$4.39₱277
191.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.69€15.74
$7.60₱479
132.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.81€2.50
$3.30₱208
-14.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60€1.42
$1.39₱87.8
15.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.08€2.74
$2.33₱147
32.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26€2.01
$1.50₱94.3
50.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85€1.64
$2.36₱149
-21.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.76€1.56
$1.90₱119
-7.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.70€1.51
$1.19₱74.9
42.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61€0.54
$0.63₱39.71
-3.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.62€5.89
$3.00₱189
120.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.68€5.05
$6.03₱379
-5.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93€0.82
$1.23₱77.7
-24.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.49
$1.75₱110
-4.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Cantù
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.61€1.43
$0.25₱15.86
544.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.33€34.98
$12.64₱796
211.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45€4.85
$0.77₱48.62
607.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.22€1.97
$0.23₱14.53
865.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.55€34.29
$4.46₱281
764.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.04€1.82
$1.31₱82.8
55.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€32.3K
$21.2K₱1.3M
71.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3K€30.5K
$19.1K₱1.2M
79.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cantù
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192€171
$120₱7,569
59.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.91€11.49
$14.00₱882
-7.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.52€24.48
$27.54₱1,734
-0.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cantù
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5€47.59
$32.33₱2,035
65.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.72€21.10
$6.65₱419
256.69%
Cinema Ticket
$11.24€10.00
$5.65₱356
98.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cantù
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€641
$275₱17.3K
161.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,148€6,358
$7,918₱498.5K
-9.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cantù
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€78.2
$49.33₱3,106
78.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.32€39.42
$25.24₱1,589
75.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€95.7
$77.0₱4,846
39.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€114
$57.2₱3,601
124.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cantù
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$771€686
$500₱31.5K
54.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$527€469
$309₱19.4K
70.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,137€1,012
$1,078₱67.9K
5.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$884€787
$615₱38.7K
43.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,313€2,947
$2,886₱181.7K
14.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,168€1,929
$1,917₱120.7K
13.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cantù
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,815€2,504
$346₱21.8K
713.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.65
7.2
-49.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cantù: 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
Cantù
$527 31.5%
Cebu
$309 33.6% ↓ 41.4%$218
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cantù
$318 19%
Cebu
$206 22.4% ↓ 35.3%$113
🍽Eating Out
Cantù
$292 17.5%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↓ 69.8%$204
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cantù
$232 13.9%
Cebu
$162 17.6% ↓ 30.4%$71
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cantù
$166 9.9%
Cebu
$94 10.2% ↓ 43.3%$72
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cantù
$76 4.5%
Cebu
$44 4.8% ↓ 42.6%$32
🚌Getting Around
Cantù
$62 3.7%
Cebu
$16 1.7% ↓ 75%$47
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cantù
$884 24.5%
Cebu
$615 32.4% ↓ 30.4%$269
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cantù
$758 21%
Cebu
$483 25.4% ↓ 36.3%$275
🍽Eating Out
Cantù
$1K 29%
Cebu
$292 15.4% ↓ 72.1%$754
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cantù
$245 6.8%
Cebu
$176 9.3% ↓ 28.3%$69
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cantù
$368 10.2%
Cebu
$209 11% ↓ 43.3%$160
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cantù
$176 4.9%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↓ 46.6%$82
🚌Getting Around
Cantù
$128 3.6%
Cebu
$32 1.7% ↓ 75.3%$96
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $771 in Cantù and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cantù pays 714% 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: $90.0 in Cantù vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $206 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
Cantù vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cantù and in Cebu?
Cantù and Cebu differ by about 82% in total monthly costs ($1,674 vs $918 including rent). Cebu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Cantù or Cebu?
Average pay runs 714% higher in Cantù, 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 Cantù and in Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $771 in Cantù versus $500 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 Cantù and Cebu?
Childcare runs $721 in Cantù versus $275 in Cebu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in Cantù. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,674 in Cantù, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Cantù. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cantù 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 Cantù or Cebu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Cantù 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: Cantù or Cebu?
Expats usually find Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in Cantù. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.