Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Ballsh

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $1,214 in Ballsh, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

44

Cost of Living Index in Cebu
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Cebu Living Index
58

Cost of Living Index in Ballsh
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Ballsh Living Index

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Cebu

🇵🇭 Philippines

$934

/mo nomad

Ballsh

🇦🇱 Albania

$1,214

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Ballsh

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

A single person spends $934 per month in Cebu vs $1,214 in Ballsh, rent included.

Cebu $934
Ballsh $1,214

A couple spends around $1,415 per month in Cebu vs $1,852 in Ballsh, rent included.

Cebu $1,415
Ballsh $1,852

A family of three spends $1,896 per month in Cebu vs $2,490 in Ballsh, rent included.

Cebu $1,896
Ballsh $2,490

Cebu is about 23% cheaper than Ballsh, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Cebu and Ballsh are more affordable than the global median – Cebu 30% lower, Ballsh 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.03 ₱190

$9.99 ALL 813

-69.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.48 ₱1,473

$55.1 ALL 4,482

-57.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.09 ₱256

$7.22 ALL 587

-43.35%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱158

$2.33 ALL 189

8.15%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₱96.9

$1.42 ALL 116

8.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱30.98

$0.85 ALL 69.1

-42.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 ₱112

$3.56 ALL 290

-49.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱142

$4.14 ALL 337

-45.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₱122

$2.30 ALL 187

-15.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.7

$1.18 ALL 96.4

21.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₱63.8

$2.43 ALL 198

-58.02%

Eggs

$2.06 ₱129

$3.79 ALL 308

-45.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 ₱615

$12.96 ALL 1,054

-24.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 ₱289

$9.41 ALL 766

-51.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.70 ₱483

$16.85 ALL 1,371

-54.30%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 ₱207

$1.93 ALL 157

71.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱90.9

$2.42 ALL 197

-40.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 ₱148

$2.16 ALL 176

9.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₱96.4

$1.84 ALL 149

-16.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.36 ₱148

$1.02 ALL 82.9

131.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 ₱125

$1.31 ALL 107

51.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ₱72.1

$1.44 ALL 117

-20.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₱42.15

$0.75 ALL 61.2

-10.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 ₱188

$4.72 ALL 384

-36.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.35 ₱398

$10.52 ALL 856

-39.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₱81.9

$1.59 ALL 129

-17.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₱108

$2.01 ALL 164

-13.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.78

$0.47 ALL 38.18

-46.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.65 ₱793

$19.41 ALL 1,579

-34.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ₱46.32

$3.81 ALL 310

-80.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.11

$3.80 ALL 309

-94.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.33 ₱271

$18.85 ALL 1,534

-77.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₱83.5

$2.28 ALL 185

-41.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$34.1K ALL 2.8M

-36.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$36.2K ALL 2.9M

-46.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$121 ₱7,563

$99.2 ALL 8,074

21.50%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.45 ₱907

$18.74 ALL 1,524

-22.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.29 ₱1,774

$20.45 ALL 1,664

38.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.68 ₱2,050

$55.9 ALL 4,549

-41.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.39 ₱401

Cinema Ticket

$5.46 ₱342

$10.13 ALL 824

-46.10%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$273 ₱17.1K

$351 ALL 28.6K

-22.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,156 ₱511.5K

$8,230 ALL 669.6K

-0.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.57 ₱3,109

$50.0 ALL 4,069

-0.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.87 ₱1,560

$48.21 ALL 3,922

-48.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.6 ₱4,804

$120 ALL 9,755

-36.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.3 ₱3,717

$113 ALL 9,212

-47.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 ₱31.7K

$473 ALL 38.5K

6.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ₱19.4K

$331 ALL 26.9K

-6.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,052 ₱66.0K

$721 ALL 58.7K

45.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 ₱38.8K

$469 ALL 38.2K

31.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,915 ₱182.9K

$1,863 ALL 151.6K

56.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,867 ₱117.1K

$1,217 ALL 99.0K

53.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$341 ₱21.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

5.39

33.58%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Last update for Ballsh: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Cebu

$309 33.5%

Ballsh

$331 27.7% 7% $22

Groceries & Markets

Cebu

$210 22.7%

Ballsh

$292 24.4% 38.6% $81

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Cebu

$163 17.7%

Ballsh

$138 11.6% 15.2% $25

Clothing & Footwear

Cebu

$95 10.2%

Ballsh

$149 12.5% 57.6% $54

Eating Out

Cebu

$88 9.6%

Ballsh

$165 13.8% 86.3% $76

Sport & Entertainment

Cebu

$44 4.7%

Ballsh

$76 6.4% 74.7% $33

Getting Around

Cebu

$15 1.7%

Ballsh

$44 3.7% 186% $29

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $506 in Cebu versus $473 in Ballsh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Cebu versus $55.0 in Ballsh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $292 – making Cebu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Cebu

🇦🇱 Ballsh

🕒 Local time

16:23 4:23 PM

10:23 10:23 AM

6 h behind Cebu

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

964,169

7,000

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

Albanian Lek ALL L

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.42 EUR

100 ALL = 1.23 USD

100 ALL = 1.1 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ALL, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇭 Philippine Peso (₱)

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).

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 81.36 ALL (100 ALL = 1.23 USD). 1 EUR = 91.25 ALL (100 ALL = 1.1 EUR).

USD to PHP in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Cebu Ballsh 10,430 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight

From you

Cebu
Ballsh

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 Ballsh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ballsh is pricier by about 30%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,401 per month in Cebu and $1,821 in Ballsh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Groceries cost about 39% more in Ballsh, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Cebu and $55.0 in Ballsh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cebu, where all-in costs run around $934, than in Ballsh at $1,214. In Cebu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ballsh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cebu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Cebu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ballsh makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.