For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $1,752 in Gdansk, rent and utilities included – about $9,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most 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 Gdansk actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $934 in Cebu versus $1,752 in Gdansk.
Cebu $934
Gdansk $1,752
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,415 in Cebu versus $2,523 in Gdansk.
Cebu $1,415
Gdansk $2,523
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,896 in Cebu versus $3,294 in Gdansk.
Cebu $1,896
Gdansk $3,294
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 47% less than in Gdansk, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 30% below, Gdansk is 31% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Gdansk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03₱190
$11.44zł 44.71
-73.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48₱1,473
$57.9zł 226
-59.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.09₱256
$8.79zł 34.37
-53.47%
Cappuccino
$2.52₱158
$4.10zł 16.02
-38.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54₱96.9
$2.33zł 9.12
-33.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49₱30.98
$1.65zł 6.45
-70.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79₱112
$3.77zł 14.72
-52.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26₱142
$3.81zł 14.90
-40.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Gdansk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95₱122
$1.00zł 3.93
95.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43₱89.7
$1.29zł 5.04
10.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02₱63.8
$1.72zł 6.74
-40.70%
Eggs
$2.06₱129
$3.89zł 15.22
-47.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81₱615
$8.47zł 33.11
15.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.61₱289
$6.77zł 26.47
-31.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.70₱483
$13.76zł 53.8
-44.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31₱207
$1.25zł 4.90
164.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45₱90.9
$1.81zł 7.09
-19.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.36₱148
$2.10zł 8.21
12.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54₱96.4
$3.12zł 12.20
-50.64%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36₱148
$0.79zł 3.09
198.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99₱125
$1.06zł 4.14
87.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15₱72.1
$1.31zł 5.14
-12.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67₱42.15
$0.69zł 2.70
-2.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00₱188
$5.92zł 23.13
-49.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.35₱398
$6.62zł 25.89
-4.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31₱81.9
$1.23zł 4.83
6.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73₱108
$1.80zł 7.03
-3.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Gdansk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.78
$1.20zł 4.71
-79.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.65₱793
$30.95zł 121
-59.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74₱46.32
$2.03zł 7.92
-63.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.21₱13.11
$1.03zł 4.04
-79.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.33₱271
$12.55zł 49.06
-65.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₱83.5
$1.62zł 6.32
-17.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K₱1.4M
$30.2Kzł 118.1K
-27.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K₱1.2M
$28.6Kzł 111.9K
-32.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Gdansk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121₱7,563
$296zł 1,157
-59.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.45₱907
$11.78zł 46.06
22.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.29₱1,774
$20.47zł 80.0
38.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Gdansk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.68₱2,050
$44.71zł 175
-26.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.39₱401
$29.31zł 115
-78.20%
Cinema Ticket
$5.46₱342
$7.84zł 30.63
-30.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Gdansk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$273₱17.1K
$537zł 2,098
-49.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,156₱511.5K
$7,897zł 30.9K
3.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Gdansk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.57₱3,109
$89.3zł 349
-44.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.87₱1,560
$48.46zł 189
-48.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.6₱4,804
$93.7zł 366
-18.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3₱3,717
$106zł 415
-44.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Gdansk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$506₱31.7K
$999zł 3,906
-49.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₱19.4K
$742zł 2,900
-58.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,052₱66.0K
$1,670zł 6,526
-37.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$619₱38.8K
$1,099zł 4,295
-43.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,915₱182.9K
$5,429zł 21.2K
-46.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,867₱117.1K
$3,001zł 11.7K
-37.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Gdansk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$341₱21.4K
$1,991zł 7,782
-82.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
6.67
7.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026
Last update for Gdansk: October 3, 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 33.5%
Gdansk
$742 42.1% ↑ 140%$433
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210 22.7%
Gdansk
$228 12.9% ↑ 8.4%$18
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163 17.7%
Gdansk
$328 18.6% ↑ 101%$165
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$95 10.2%
Gdansk
$152 8.6% ↑ 60.5%$57
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Gdansk
$209 11.9% ↑ 137%$121
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44 4.7%
Gdansk
$60 3.4% ↑ 38.5%$17
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$15 1.7%
Gdansk
$43 2.4% ↑ 178%$28
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$619 32.4%
Gdansk
$1.1K 33.7% ↑ 77.5%$480
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$493 25.8%
Gdansk
$538 16.5% ↑ 9.3%$46
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$178 9.3%
Gdansk
$340 10.4% ↑ 91.2%$162
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$210 11%
Gdansk
$337 10.4% ↑ 60.5%$127
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$288 15.1%
Gdansk
$707 21.7% ↑ 145%$418
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$94 4.9%
Gdansk
$150 4.6% ↑ 60.4%$57
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$31 1.6%
Gdansk
$88 2.7% ↑ 182%$57
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $506 in Cebu and $999 in Gdansk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gdansk pays 484% 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: $23.00 in Cebu vs $58.0 in Gdansk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $228 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 Gdansk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gdansk cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 88% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Gdansk?
On paper, salaries run 484% lower in Gdansk. 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 Gdansk?
Rent for a central apartment: $506 in Cebu versus $999 in Gdansk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Gdansk?
All in, you'll spend $934 per month in Cebu versus $1,752 in Gdansk – a 88% 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 145% less than in Gdansk. 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 Gdansk?
At $934 in Cebu versus $1,752 in Gdansk, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Gdansk. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Gdansk more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Gdansk, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Gdansk?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Gdansk 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 88% less than in Gdansk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.