Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Kamakura

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,194 in Kamakura, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Kamakura
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,194
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Kamakura

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $1,194 in Kamakura.

  • Cebu $918
  • Kamakura $1,194

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $1,888 in Kamakura.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Kamakura $1,888

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $2,582 in Kamakura.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Kamakura $2,582

Living in Cebu costs roughly 23% less than in Kamakura, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Kamakura 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Kamakura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$6.34 ¥1,002
-51.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$31.78 ¥5,020
-23.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$4.98 ¥787
-21.29%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$2.48 ¥392
1.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$1.08 ¥171
47.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$0.80 ¥127
-33.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$2.57 ¥406
-30.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$3.22 ¥509
-32.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Kamakura
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$1.38 ¥219
39.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$1.50 ¥237
-9.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$3.67 ¥580
-72.48%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$1.99 ¥315
2.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$10.47 ¥1,654
-5.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$6.18 ¥976
-28.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$14.39 ¥2,274
-47.19%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$5.61 ¥886
-41.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$2.69 ¥424
-48.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$2.89 ¥457
-19.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$4.30 ¥679
-65.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$2.50 ¥395
-5.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$2.55 ¥403
-25.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$1.13 ¥179
5.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$0.76 ¥120
-17.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$3.71 ¥587
-19.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
$6.44 ¥1,017
-6.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$1.81 ¥286
-32.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$2.04 ¥322
-14.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Kamakura
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
$1.50 ¥237
-83.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
$56.5 ¥8,926
-77.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$3.08 ¥487
-75.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$2.76 ¥436
-91.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$15.85 ¥2,505
-71.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$1.10 ¥173
19.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$21.6K ¥3.4M
-1.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$15.3K ¥2.4M
25.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Kamakura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$118 ¥18.6K
2.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$23.42 ¥3,700
-40.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$31.10 ¥4,913
-11.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Kamakura
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$52.8 ¥8,335
-38.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$12.67 ¥2,001
-55.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Kamakura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$584 ¥92.3K
-52.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$14.8K ¥2.3M
-46.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Kamakura
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$50.9 ¥8,044
-3.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$35.32 ¥5,580
-28.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$59.9 ¥9,456
28.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$97.5 ¥15.4K
-41.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Kamakura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$568 ¥89.7K
-12.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$346 ¥54.7K
-10.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$1,212 ¥191.4K
-11.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
$748 ¥118.3K
-17.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
$4,369 ¥690.2K
-33.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$1,979 ¥312.6K
-3.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Kamakura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
$1,785 ¥282.0K
-80.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
2.02
256.44%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Kamakura: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Kamakura
$346 12.1% $37
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Kamakura
$286 39.1% $81
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Kamakura
$172 6.4% $10
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Kamakura
$110 16.7% $16
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Kamakura
$122 38.5% $34
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Kamakura
$78 79% $34
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Kamakura
$79 410% $64

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $568 in Kamakura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kamakura pays 416% 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 $32.00 in Kamakura for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $286 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇯🇵 Kamakura
🕒 Local time
09:27 9:27 AM
10:27 10:27 AM
1 h ahead of Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
172,710
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Kamakura 3,200 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Kamakura

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 Kamakura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kamakura cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Kamakura?
On paper, salaries run 416% lower in Kamakura. 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 Kamakura?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $568 in Kamakura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Kamakura?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $1,194 in Kamakura – a 30% 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 347% less than in Kamakura. 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 Kamakura?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,194 in Kamakura, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Kamakura. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Kamakura more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kamakura, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Kamakura?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Kamakura 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 30% less than in Kamakura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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