Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Horten

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $915 a month against $2,678 in Horten, rent and utilities included – about $21,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$915
/mo nomad
Horten
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,678
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Horten

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $915 in Cebu versus $2,678 in Horten.

  • Cebu $915
  • Horten $2,678

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,418 in Cebu versus $3,785 in Horten.

  • Cebu $1,418
  • Horten $3,785

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,921 in Cebu versus $4,892 in Horten.

  • Cebu $1,921
  • Horten $4,892

Living in Cebu costs roughly 66% less than in Horten, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 33% below, Horten is 98% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Horten
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.05 ₱192
$21.27 NOK 200
-85.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.00 ₱1,511
$126 NOK 1,183
-80.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.99 ₱251
$16.13 NOK 152
-75.26%
Cappuccino
$2.50 ₱157
$6.05 NOK 56.9
-58.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₱97.1
$3.00 NOK 28.24
-48.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₱31.37
$3.22 NOK 30.29
-84.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$11.83 NOK 111
-84.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱136
$12.56 NOK 118
-82.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Horten
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.00 ₱126
$2.28 NOK 21.47
-12.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 ₱86.2
$3.49 NOK 32.90
-60.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 ₱64.9
$4.11 NOK 38.72
-74.94%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$5.24 NOK 49.30
-61.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.20 ₱642
$7.58 NOK 71.4
34.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.45 ₱280
$15.17 NOK 143
-70.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.67 ₱483
$11.97 NOK 113
-35.92%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 ₱208
$3.30 NOK 31.10
0.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 ₱91.8
$2.74 NOK 25.76
-46.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 ₱146
$3.56 NOK 33.55
-34.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 ₱94.0
$6.05 NOK 57.0
-75.37%
Potato (1kg)
$2.34 ₱147
$2.78 NOK 26.21
-15.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 ₱122
$2.97 NOK 27.95
-34.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 ₱73.0
$2.17 NOK 20.38
-46.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 ₱42.89
$2.47 NOK 23.21
-72.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99 ₱188
$19.34 NOK 182
-84.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.24 ₱393
$16.85 NOK 159
-62.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.3
$3.51 NOK 33.05
-64.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₱109
$4.41 NOK 41.52
-60.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Horten
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 ₱14.36
$4.83 NOK 45.44
-95.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.34 ₱777
$87.3 NOK 821
-85.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.79 ₱49.96
$12.15 NOK 114
-93.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱13.86
$1.89 NOK 17.78
-88.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.54 ₱286
$70.8 NOK 667
-93.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 ₱82.9
$2.43 NOK 22.86
-45.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ₱1.3M
$48.4K NOK 455.9K
-56.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ₱1.2M
$45.3K NOK 426.4K
-57.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Horten
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 ₱7,464
$427 NOK 4,023
-72.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.22 ₱896
$34.47 NOK 324
-58.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.47 ₱1,730
$54.0 NOK 508
-49.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Horten
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.31 ₱2,034
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.50 ₱409
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.40 ₱340
$20.34 NOK 191
-73.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Horten
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$276 ₱17.4K
$127 NOK 1,198
116.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,866 ₱495.3K
$15.5K NOK 146.2K
-49.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Horten
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.37 ₱3,108
$100 NOK 944
-50.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.58 ₱1,548
$43.29 NOK 408
-43.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 ₱4,825
$57.7 NOK 543
32.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.9 ₱3,706
$161 NOK 1,512
-63.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Horten
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$503 ₱31.7K
$1,108 NOK 10.4K
-54.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$305 ₱19.2K
$1,010 NOK 9,512
-69.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 ₱67.7K
$1,795 NOK 16.9K
-40.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$632 ₱39.8K
$1,263 NOK 11.9K
-49.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,870 ₱180.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,877 ₱118.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Horten
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$336 ₱21.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
4.94
45.75%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 19, 2026

Last update for Horten: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$305
Horten
$1K 232% $706
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210
Horten
$420 100% $210
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$160
Horten
$516 222% $356
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Horten
$163 72.8% $69
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Horten
$400 356% $312
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$43
Horten
$41 * 5.6% $2.4
Getting Around
Cebu
$15
Horten
$128 746% $113

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 $1,108 in Horten. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $126 in Horten for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $420 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇳🇴 Horten
🕒 Local time
09:17 9:17 AM
03:17 3:17 AM
6 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
28,001
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NOK, 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).

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 9.41 NOK (1 NOK = 0.106 USD). 1 EUR = 10.58 NOK (100 NOK = 9.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Horten 10,300 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Horten

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 Horten: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Horten cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 193% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,372 in Cebu and $4,017 in Horten 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 Horten?
Rent for a central apartment: $503 in Cebu versus $1,108 in Horten. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Horten?
All in, you'll spend $915 per month in Cebu versus $2,678 in Horten – a 193% 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 607% less than in Horten. 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 Horten?
At $915 in Cebu versus $2,678 in Horten, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Horten. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Horten more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Horten, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Horten?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Horten 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 193% less than in Horten. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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