Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Abomey-Calavi

For one person, living is cheaper in Abomey-Calavi: $714 a month against $934 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Cebu outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Abomey-Calavi
🇧🇯 Benin
$714
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Abomey-Calavi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cebu and in Abomey-Calavi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $934 per month in Cebu vs $714 in Abomey-Calavi, rent included.

  • Cebu $934
  • Abomey-Calavi $714

A couple spends around $1,415 per month in Cebu vs $1,133 in Abomey-Calavi, rent included.

  • Cebu $1,415
  • Abomey-Calavi $1,133

A family of three spends $1,896 per month in Cebu vs $1,553 in Abomey-Calavi, rent included.

  • Cebu $1,896
  • Abomey-Calavi $1,553

Cebu costs about 31% more than Abomey-Calavi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Cebu and Abomey-Calavi are more affordable than the global median – Cebu 30% lower, Abomey-Calavi 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03 ₱190
$5.77 F CFA 3,375
-47.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48 ₱1,473
$25.69 F CFA 15.0K
-8.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.09 ₱256
$8.11 F CFA 4,745
-49.57%
Cappuccino
$2.52 ₱158
$4.71 F CFA 2,753
-46.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₱96.9
$1.11 F CFA 647
38.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₱30.98
$1.76 F CFA 1,032
-72.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.79 ₱112
$1.76 F CFA 1,031
1.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ₱142
$5.07 F CFA 2,967
-55.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ₱122
$2.19 F CFA 1,282
-10.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ₱89.7
$0.25 F CFA 145
472.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 ₱63.8
$1.96 F CFA 1,148
-47.96%
Eggs
$2.06 ₱129
$2.03 F CFA 1,190
1.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 ₱615
$3.42 F CFA 1,999
186.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.61 ₱289
$3.79 F CFA 2,220
21.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.70 ₱483
$5.90 F CFA 3,453
30.51%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 ₱207
$2.21 F CFA 1,296
49.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₱90.9
$0.90 F CFA 526
61.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$0.67 F CFA 389
252.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ₱96.4
$2.03 F CFA 1,188
-24.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$0.97 F CFA 570
143.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 ₱125
$0.81 F CFA 475
145.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 ₱72.1
$0.68 F CFA 397
69.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₱42.15
$0.89 F CFA 519
-24.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱188
$0.44 F CFA 260
581.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.35 ₱398
$10.66 F CFA 6,237
-40.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₱81.9
$0.97 F CFA 566
35.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₱108
$1.12 F CFA 654
54.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.78
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.65 ₱793
$7.65 F CFA 4,474
65.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱46.32
$1.71 F CFA 1,003
-56.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.11
$1.75 F CFA 1,025
-88.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.33 ₱271
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₱83.5
$1.21 F CFA 710
9.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₱1.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ₱1.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 ₱7,563
$119 F CFA 69.8K
1.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.45 ₱907
$19.96 F CFA 11.7K
-27.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.29 ₱1,774
$87.0 F CFA 50.9K
-67.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.68 ₱2,050
$34.49 F CFA 20.2K
-5.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.39 ₱401
$5.19 F CFA 3,035
23.12%
Cinema Ticket
$5.46 ₱342
$6.09 F CFA 3,564
-10.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$273 ₱17.1K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,156 ₱511.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.57 ₱3,109
$17.19 F CFA 10.1K
188.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.87 ₱1,560
$8.54 F CFA 4,998
191.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 ₱4,804
$26.30 F CFA 15.4K
191.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3 ₱3,717
$25.80 F CFA 15.1K
129.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$506 ₱31.7K
$101 F CFA 58.8K
402.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$73.8 F CFA 43.2K
319.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,052 ₱66.0K
$221 F CFA 129.2K
376.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$619 ₱38.8K
$278 F CFA 162.5K
122.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,915 ₱182.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,867 ₱117.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$341 ₱21.4K
$85.1 F CFA 49.8K
300.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
0
-

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

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Last update for Abomey-Calavi: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Abomey-Calavi
$74 76.1% $236
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210
Abomey-Calavi
$163 22.6% $48
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163
Abomey-Calavi
$226 38.5% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$95
Abomey-Calavi
$35 63% $60
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Abomey-Calavi
$157 78.1% $69
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Abomey-Calavi
$47 7% $3.1
Getting Around
Cebu
$15
Abomey-Calavi
$18 * 17.4% $2.7

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $506 in Cebu versus $101 in Abomey-Calavi. 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 301% higher in Cebu, 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 $23.00 in Cebu versus $26.00 in Abomey-Calavi. Groceries tell a different story – $210 in Cebu vs $163 in Abomey-Calavi – so Abomey-Calavi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇧🇯 Abomey-Calavi
🕒 Local time
16:28 4:28 PM
09:28 9:28 AM
7 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
650,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

XOF, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.35 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

West African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 585 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.52 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Abomey-Calavi 13,280 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Abomey-Calavi

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
Cebu vs Abomey-Calavi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abomey-Calavi cheaper than Cebu?
Yes – Cebu is pricier by about 31%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,401 per month in Cebu and $1,071 in Abomey-Calavi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Abomey-Calavi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Abomey-Calavi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $934 in Cebu and $714 in Abomey-Calavi. That's a gap of about 31%.
Is eating out cheaper in Cebu or in Abomey-Calavi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Cebu and $26.00 in Abomey-Calavi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Cebu or Abomey-Calavi?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $934 in Cebu and $714 in Abomey-Calavi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Cebu or Abomey-Calavi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Abomey-Calavi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Abomey-Calavi?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Abomey-Calavi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cebu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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