Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Cimislia

For one person, living is cheaper in Cimislia: $789 a month against $915 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$915
/mo nomad
Cimislia
🇲🇩 Moldova
$789
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Cimislia

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $915 in Cebu versus $789 in Cimislia.

  • Cebu $915
  • Cimislia $789

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,418 in Cebu versus $1,125 in Cimislia.

  • Cebu $1,418
  • Cimislia $1,125

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,921 in Cebu versus $1,461 in Cimislia.

  • Cebu $1,921
  • Cimislia $1,461

Living in Cebu is roughly 16% more expensive than in Cimislia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 33% lower, Cimislia 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Cimislia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.05 ₱192
$6.69 MDL 119
-54.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.00 ₱1,511
$22.58 MDL 401
6.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.99 ₱251
$10.66 MDL 189
-62.57%
Cappuccino
$2.50 ₱157
$1.63 MDL 29.02
53.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₱97.1
$1.10 MDL 19.62
40.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₱31.37
$0.64 MDL 11.40
-21.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$1.11 MDL 19.67
60.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱136
$2.18 MDL 38.65
-0.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Cimislia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.00 ₱126
$1.03 MDL 18.38
94.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 ₱86.2
$0.40 MDL 7.15
242.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 ₱64.9
$1.54 MDL 27.32
-33.12%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$2.07 MDL 36.70
-1.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.20 ₱642
$6.86 MDL 122
48.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.45 ₱280
$3.95 MDL 70.1
12.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.67 ₱483
$6.24 MDL 111
22.92%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 ₱208
$0.54 MDL 9.59
512.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 ₱91.8
$2.25 MDL 39.96
-35.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 ₱146
$1.43 MDL 25.34
62.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 ₱94.0
$1.97 MDL 35.06
-24.37%
Potato (1kg)
$2.34 ₱147
$0.58 MDL 10.24
303.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 ₱122
$0.52 MDL 9.18
273.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 ₱73.0
$0.46 MDL 8.19
152.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 ₱42.89
$0.58 MDL 10.28
17.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99 ₱188
$3.31 MDL 58.9
-9.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.24 ₱393
$4.49 MDL 79.8
38.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.3
$1.15 MDL 20.42
6.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₱109
$2.00 MDL 35.61
-13.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Cimislia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 ₱14.36
$0.27 MDL 4.78
-14.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.34 ₱777
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.79 ₱49.96
$2.81 MDL 49.90
-71.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱13.86
$0.26 MDL 4.63
-15.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.54 ₱286
$5.55 MDL 98.6
-18.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 ₱82.9
$1.39 MDL 24.68
-5.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ₱1.3M
$33.2K MDL 589.1K
-36.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ₱1.2M
$24.4K MDL 432.5K
-20.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Cimislia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 ₱7,464
$226 MDL 4,006
-47.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.22 ₱896
$7.71 MDL 137
84.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.47 ₱1,730
$11.03 MDL 196
149.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Cimislia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.31 ₱2,034
$16.80 MDL 298
92.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.50 ₱409
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.40 ₱340
$7.50 MDL 133
-28.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Cimislia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$276 ₱17.4K
$112 MDL 1,989
146.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,866 ₱495.3K
$5,295 MDL 94.0K
48.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Cimislia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.37 ₱3,108
$45.08 MDL 801
9.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.58 ₱1,548
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 ₱4,825
$55.2 MDL 981
38.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.9 ₱3,706
$50.8 MDL 903
15.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Cimislia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$503 ₱31.7K
$225 MDL 3,991
124.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$305 ₱19.2K
$168 MDL 2,984
81.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 ₱67.7K
$330 MDL 5,854
226.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$632 ₱39.8K
$280 MDL 4,981
125.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,870 ₱180.7K
$743 MDL 13.2K
286.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,877 ₱118.2K
$685 MDL 12.2K
173.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Cimislia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$336 ₱21.1K
$425 MDL 7,550
-20.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
8
-10.00%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 19, 2026

Last update for Cimislia: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$305
Cimislia
$168 44.8% $137
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210
Cimislia
$150 28.5% $60
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$160
Cimislia
$244 52.5% $84
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Cimislia
$68 * 27.9% $26
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Cimislia
$122 39.1% $34
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$43
Cimislia
$32 26.2% $11
Getting Around
Cebu
$15
Cimislia
$5.2 * 65.7% $10

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 $503 in Cebu and $225 in Cimislia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cimislia pays 27% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $23.00 in Cimislia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $150 per month, with Cimislia cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇲🇩 Cimislia
🕒 Local time
01:53 1:53 AM
20:53 8:53 PM
5 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
16,100
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MDL, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Moldovan Leu exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 17.76 MDL (100 MDL = 5.63 USD). 1 EUR = 19.97 MDL (100 MDL = 5.01 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Cimislia 9,570 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Cimislia

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 Cimislia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cimislia cheaper than Cebu?
Cimislia is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Cimislia?
On paper, salaries run 27% lower in Cimislia. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Cebu and Cimislia?
Rent for a central apartment: $503 in Cebu versus $225 in Cimislia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cebu and in Cimislia?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Cimislia?
All in, you'll spend $915 per month in Cebu versus $789 in Cimislia – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $800 enough for either Cebu or Cimislia?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Cimislia gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Cebu or Cimislia more family-friendly?
For families, Cimislia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cebu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Cimislia?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Cimislia 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cimislia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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