Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Dealu

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,045 in Dealu, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. The total is higher in Dealu despite lower rent and utilities.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Dealu
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,045
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Dealu

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $1,045 in Dealu.

  • Cebu $918
  • Dealu $1,045

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $1,738 in Dealu.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Dealu $1,738

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $2,430 in Dealu.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Dealu $2,430

Living in Cebu costs roughly 12% less than in Dealu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Dealu 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Dealu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$13.97 RON 66.1
-77.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$85.6 RON 405
-71.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$8.64 RON 40.87
-54.63%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$1.95 RON 9.21
28.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$1.92 RON 9.09
-17.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$1.89 RON 8.94
-71.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$2.53 RON 11.97
-29.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$3.31 RON 15.65
-34.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Dealu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$1.69 RON 8.00
13.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$1.35 RON 6.41
0.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$1.71 RON 8.10
-40.94%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$4.47 RON 21.14
-54.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$8.44 RON 39.94
16.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$5.27 RON 24.92
-16.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$9.84 RON 46.55
-22.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$1.14 RON 5.39
189.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$1.43 RON 6.77
-2.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$1.60 RON 7.56
45.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$2.62 RON 12.38
-42.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$0.69 RON 3.25
242.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$0.66 RON 3.10
187.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$0.76 RON 3.62
56.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$0.87 RON 4.10
-27.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$5.32 RON 25.19
-43.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
$6.20 RON 29.35
-2.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$1.51 RON 7.15
-18.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$1.94 RON 9.20
-9.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Dealu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
$0.72 RON 3.41
-65.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
$21.36 RON 101
-40.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$0.56 RON 2.67
37.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$0.66 RON 3.14
-65.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$7.13 RON 33.75
-37.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$1.87 RON 8.86
-29.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$28.2K RON 133.6K
-24.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$28.8K RON 136.3K
-33.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Dealu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$107 RON 505
12.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$10.67 RON 50.5
31.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$4.85 RON 22.96
467.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Dealu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$37.68 RON 178
-14.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
$20.63 RON 97.6
-67.77%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$10.51 RON 49.73
-46.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Dealu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$589 RON 2,785
-53.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$6,879 RON 32.5K
15.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Dealu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$60.9 RON 288
-19.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$35.71 RON 169
-29.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$128 RON 605
-39.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$105 RON 497
-45.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Dealu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$379 RON 1,795
31.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$281 RON 1,332
9.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$590 RON 2,789
82.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
$453 RON 2,143
35.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
$1,878 RON 8,885
53.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$1,342 RON 6,349
42.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Dealu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
6.97
3.30%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Dealu: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Dealu
$281 8.9% $27
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Dealu
$211 2.4% $4.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Dealu
$122 24.4% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Dealu
$148 57.9% $54
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Dealu
$196 122% $107
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Dealu
$59 34.6% $15
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Dealu
$28 80.7% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $379 in Dealu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $86.0 in Dealu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $211 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇷🇴 Dealu
🕒 Local time
07:05 7:05 AM
02:05 2:05 AM
5 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
3,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RON, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.32 RON (1 RON = 0.188 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Dealu 9,830 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Dealu

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 Dealu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dealu cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,377 in Cebu and $1,568 in Dealu 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.
What is the rent difference between Cebu and Dealu?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $379 in Dealu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Dealu?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $1,045 in Dealu – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Cebu runs roughly 69% less than in Dealu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cebu or in Dealu?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,045 in Dealu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Dealu. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Dealu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Dealu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Dealu?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Dealu 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 Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Dealu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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