Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Acre

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $2,960 in Acre, rent and utilities included – about $24,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Acre
🇮🇱 Israel
$2,960
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Acre

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 Acre actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $2,960 in Acre.

  • Cebu $918
  • Acre $2,960

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $4,244 in Acre.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Acre $4,244

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $5,528 in Acre.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Acre $5,528

Living in Cebu costs roughly 69% less than in Acre, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 32% below, Acre is 119% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Acre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$25.98 ₪80.8
-88.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$108 ₪337
-77.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$19.14 ₪59.6
-79.52%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$4.68 ₪14.57
-46.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$3.61 ₪11.24
-55.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$3.06 ₪9.53
-82.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$10.64 ₪33.11
-83.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$10.77 ₪33.51
-79.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Acre
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$2.53 ₪7.86
-24.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$3.57 ₪11.10
-61.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$3.78 ₪11.77
-73.28%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$4.83 ₪15.04
-57.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$17.04 ₪53.0
-42.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$12.94 ₪40.27
-66.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$23.90 ₪74.4
-68.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$4.50 ₪14.02
-26.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$2.85 ₪8.87
-51.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$2.39 ₪7.44
-2.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$2.53 ₪7.86
-40.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$1.87 ₪5.81
26.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$1.75 ₪5.43
8.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$2.48 ₪7.72
-52.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$2.67 ₪8.31
-76.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$13.45 ₪41.85
-77.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
$15.24 ₪47.42
-60.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$3.11 ₪9.67
-60.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$4.87 ₪15.17
-64.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Acre
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
$2.67 ₪8.30
-90.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
$101 ₪316
-87.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$4.37 ₪13.60
-82.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$1.14 ₪3.54
-79.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$19.45 ₪60.5
-77.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$2.68 ₪8.35
-51.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$57.0K ₪177.3K
-62.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$59.2K ₪184.3K
-67.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Acre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$265 ₪826
-54.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$11.95 ₪37.17
17.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$36.57 ₪114
-24.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Acre
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$74.4 ₪231
-56.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$15.92 ₪49.52
-64.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Acre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$1,172 ₪3,647
-76.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$31.4K ₪97.6K
-74.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Acre
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$112 ₪347
-55.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$71.8 ₪223
-64.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$133 ₪414
-42.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$154 ₪480
-62.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Acre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$1,436 ₪4,467
-65.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$1,332 ₪4,144
-76.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$2,076 ₪6,459
-48.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
$1,849 ₪5,752
-66.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
$9,458 ₪29.4K
-69.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$8,013 ₪24.9K
-76.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Acre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
5.04
42.86%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Acre: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Acre
$1.3K 331% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Acre
$452 119% $246
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Acre
$314 94% $152
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Acre
$212 126% $118
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Acre
$423 379% $335
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Acre
$106 144% $63
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Acre
$122 685% $107

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $1,436 in Acre. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $108 in Acre for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $452 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇮🇱 Acre
🕒 Local time
17:25 5:25 PM
12:25 12:25 PM
5 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
55,974
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ILS, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Israeli New Shekel exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3.11 ILS (1 ILS = 0.321 USD). 1 EUR = 3.5 ILS (1 ILS = 0.286 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Acre 9,280 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Acre

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 Acre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cebu or Acre?
Cebu wins on cost – living expenses run 223% lower than in Acre. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cebu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cebu and in Acre?
You'd need roughly $1,377 in Cebu and $4,441 in Acre to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cebu compared to Acre?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $1,436 in Acre. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Cebu or in Acre?
Supermarket bills run roughly 119% higher in Acre. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Cebu and in Acre?
Dining out is cheaper in Cebu – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $108 in Acre. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Cebu or in Acre?
At $918 in Cebu versus $2,960 in Acre, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Acre. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cebu or Acre?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cebu delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $918 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cebu hard to pass up.
How safe is Cebu compared to Acre?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Acre 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 223% less than in Acre. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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