For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,811 in Forli, rent and utilities included – about $10,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
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 Forli actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $1,811 in Forli.
Cebu $918
Forli $1,811
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $2,551 in Forli.
Cebu $1,409
Forli $2,551
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $3,290 in Forli.
Cebu $1,900
Forli $3,290
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 49% less than in Forli, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 32% below, Forli is 34% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Forli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09₱195
$14.32€12.73
-78.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22₱1,525
$63.2€56.2
-61.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.92₱247
$11.34€10.09
-65.43%
Cappuccino
$2.51₱158
$1.87€1.66
34.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59₱100
$3.04€2.70
-47.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53₱33.45
$1.50€1.33
-64.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78₱112
$5.63€5.01
-68.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱137
$5.56€4.94
-60.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Forli
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92₱121
$1.43€1.27
34.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36₱85.5
$2.54€2.26
-46.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01₱63.6
$1.64€1.46
-38.41%
Eggs
$2.03₱128
$4.88€4.34
-58.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.86₱621
$14.98€13.33
-34.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.39₱277
$13.67€12.16
-67.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60₱479
$20.23€17.99
-62.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30₱208
$2.67€2.37
23.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39₱87.8
$2.51€2.23
-44.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33₱147
$3.21€2.86
-27.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50₱94.3
$3.17€2.82
-52.68%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36₱149
$2.37€2.11
-0.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90₱119
$1.71€1.53
11.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₱74.9
$1.36€1.21
-12.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63₱39.73
$0.61€0.54
3.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00₱189
$6.65€5.92
-54.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.03₱380
$7.87€7.00
-23.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23₱77.7
$1.50€1.33
-18.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75₱110
$1.59€1.41
10.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Forli
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.87
$1.66€1.47
-84.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.64₱796
$35.02€31.15
-63.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77₱48.64
$6.55€5.83
-88.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱14.54
$1.45€1.29
-84.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.46₱281
$31.97€28.44
-86.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31₱82.8
$2.01€1.79
-34.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K₱1.3M
$36.7K€32.6K
-42.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K₱1.2M
$34.6K€30.7K
-44.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Forli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120₱7,573
$188€167
-36.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00₱882
$13.51€12.02
3.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54₱1,735
$25.84€22.98
6.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Forli
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.33₱2,036
$66.7€59.3
-51.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65₱419
$16.72€14.87
-60.23%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65₱356
$10.16€9.04
-44.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Forli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$275₱17.3K
$202€180
36.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,918₱498.8K
$14.7K€13.1K
-46.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Forli
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33₱3,107
$77.2€68.7
-36.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24₱1,590
$26.29€23.38
-3.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0₱4,848
$95.3€84.8
-19.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2₱3,603
$108€96.0
-47.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Forli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500₱31.5K
$610€543
-18.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₱19.5K
$728€647
-57.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,078₱67.9K
$1,118€994
-3.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$615₱38.8K
$840€747
-26.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,886₱181.8K
$1,769€1,573
63.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,917₱120.7K
$1,425€1,268
34.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Forli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$346₱21.8K
$2,017€1,794
-82.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
3.29
118.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026
Last update for Forli: October 13, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309 33.6%
Forli
$728 40.2% ↑ 136%$419
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206 22.4%
Forli
$347 19.1% ↑ 68.4%$141
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162 17.6%
Forli
$227 12.6% ↑ 40.4%$65
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94 10.2%
Forli
$138 7.6% ↑ 47%$44
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Forli
$228 12.6% ↑ 159%$140
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44 4.8%
Forli
$87 4.8% ↑ 99.4%$43
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$16 1.7%
Forli
$55 3.1% ↑ 256%$40
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$615 32.4%
Forli
$840 25.5% ↑ 36.5%$225
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$483 25.4%
Forli
$828 25.2% ↑ 71.5%$345
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$176 9.3%
Forli
$241 7.3% ↑ 36.9%$65
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$209 11%
Forli
$307 9.3% ↑ 47%$98
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$292 15.4%
Forli
$770 23.4% ↑ 164%$478
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$94 4.9%
Forli
$191 5.8% ↑ 103%$97
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$32 1.7%
Forli
$114 3.5% ↑ 261%$83
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $610 in Forli. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Forli pays 483% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $63.0 in Forli for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $347 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.
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 Forli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forli cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 97% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Forli?
On paper, salaries run 483% lower in Forli. 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 Forli?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $610 in Forli. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Forli?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $1,811 in Forli – a 97% 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 177% less than in Forli. 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 Forli?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,811 in Forli, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Forli. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Forli more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Forli, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Forli?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Forli 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 97% less than in Forli. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.