Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Gafsa

For one person, living is cheaper in Gafsa: $586 a month against $918 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Gafsa
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$586
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Gafsa

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $586 in Gafsa.

  • Cebu $918
  • Gafsa $586

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $903 in Gafsa.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Gafsa $903

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $1,220 in Gafsa.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Gafsa $1,220

Living in Cebu is roughly 57% more expensive than in Gafsa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Gafsa 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Gafsa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$3.96 TND 11.86
-21.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$9.87 TND 29.56
145.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$2.47 TND 7.40
58.70%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$0.58 TND 1.74
332.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$0.52 TND 1.55
205.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$0.24 TND 0.71
120.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$1.72 TND 5.15
3.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$1.68 TND 5.05
29.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Gafsa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$0.46 TND 1.39
317.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$0.13 TND 0.39
946.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$1.67 TND 5.02
-39.52%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$1.04 TND 3.13
95.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$12.88 TND 38.59
-23.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$5.98 TND 17.90
-26.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$11.60 TND 34.75
-34.48%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$1.39 TND 4.15
137.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$3.02 TND 9.05
-53.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$0.83 TND 2.48
180.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$0.93 TND 2.78
61.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$0.71 TND 2.12
232.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$0.47 TND 1.40
304.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$0.45 TND 1.35
164.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$0.27 TND 0.81
133.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$2.52 TND 7.54
19.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
$5.16 TND 15.47
16.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$1.22 TND 3.66
0.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$1.35 TND 4.05
29.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Gafsa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
$0.32 TND 0.95
-21.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
$10.92 TND 32.70
15.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$0.29 TND 0.86
165.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$0.25 TND 0.75
-8.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$4.13 TND 12.37
7.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$0.87 TND 2.61
50.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$38.2K TND 114.5K
-44.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$31.4K TND 93.9K
-38.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Gafsa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$39.47 TND 118
204.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$8.41 TND 25.20
66.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$19.27 TND 57.7
42.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Gafsa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$15.29 TND 45.80
111.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
$12.41 TND 37.16
-46.41%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$3.43 TND 10.27
64.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Gafsa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$59.1 TND 177
366.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$1,023 TND 3,065
673.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Gafsa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$39.72 TND 119
24.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$52.5 TND 157
-51.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$104 TND 313
-26.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$113 TND 340
-49.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Gafsa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$141 TND 422
254.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$102 TND 304
204.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$205 TND 615
424.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
$153 TND 458
302.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
$969 TND 2,904
197.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$358 TND 1,073
434.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Gafsa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
$305 TND 913
13.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
8.88
-18.92%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Gafsa: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Gafsa
$102 67.1% $207
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Gafsa
$180 12.4% $25
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Gafsa
$67 58.5% $95
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Gafsa
$140 48.5% $46
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Gafsa
$61 30.9% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Gafsa
$22 49.2% $21
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Gafsa
$14 11.8% $1.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $141 in Gafsa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 13% 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 $10.00 in Gafsa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $180 per month, with Gafsa cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇹🇳 Gafsa
🕒 Local time
07:37 7:37 AM
00:37 12:37 AM
7 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
111,170
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TND, 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).

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 2.99 TND (1 TND = 0.334 USD). 1 EUR = 3.37 TND (1 TND = 0.297 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Gafsa 11,570 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Gafsa

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 Gafsa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gafsa cheaper than Cebu?
Gafsa is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 57% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Gafsa?
Average pay runs 13% higher in Cebu, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Cebu and Gafsa?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $141 in Gafsa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Gafsa?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $586 in Gafsa – a 57% 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 Gafsa runs roughly 16% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Cebu or Gafsa?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Gafsa gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Cebu or Gafsa more family-friendly?
For families, Gafsa 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 Gafsa?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Gafsa 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 Gafsa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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