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 Kerak actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $955 in Kerak.
Cebu $918
Kerak $955
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $1,499 in Kerak.
Cebu $1,409
Kerak $1,499
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $2,043 in Kerak.
Cebu $1,900
Kerak $2,043
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 4% less than in Kerak, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu32% lower, Kerak29% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Kerak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09₱194
$2.80JOD 1.98
10.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22₱1,525
$71.8JOD 50.9
-66.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.92₱247
$5.50JOD 3.89
-28.73%
Cappuccino
$2.51₱158
$0.68JOD 0.48
269.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59₱100
$0.51JOD 0.36
211.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53₱33.43
$0.36JOD 0.26
47.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78₱112
$8.59JOD 6.08
-79.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱137
$10.85JOD 7.68
-80.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Kerak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92₱121
$1.43JOD 1.01
34.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36₱85.4
$0.37JOD 0.26
267.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01₱63.5
$0.81JOD 0.58
24.69%
Eggs
$2.03₱128
$1.72JOD 1.21
18.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.86₱621
$6.98JOD 4.94
41.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.39₱277
$4.26JOD 3.02
3.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60₱479
$12.74JOD 9.02
-40.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30₱208
$1.45JOD 1.03
127.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39₱87.8
$1.42JOD 1.01
-2.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33₱147
$1.45JOD 1.02
60.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50₱94.3
$0.41JOD 0.29
265.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36₱149
$0.87JOD 0.62
171.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90₱119
$0.80JOD 0.57
137.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₱74.9
$0.64JOD 0.46
85.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63₱39.71
$0.66JOD 0.47
-4.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00₱189
$3.98JOD 2.82
-24.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.03₱379
$20.86JOD 14.77
-71.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23₱77.7
$5.06JOD 3.58
-75.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75₱110
$4.92JOD 3.48
-64.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Kerak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.86
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.64₱796
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77₱48.62
$0.63JOD 0.44
22.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱14.53
$1.43JOD 1.01
-83.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.46₱281
$6.94JOD 4.91
-35.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31₱82.8
$1.68JOD 1.19
-22.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K₱1.3M
$34.8KJOD 24.6K
-38.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K₱1.2M
$35.2KJOD 24.9K
-45.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Kerak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120₱7,569
$111JOD 78.6
8.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00₱882
$15.71JOD 11.12
-10.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54₱1,734
$28.44JOD 20.13
-3.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Kerak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.33₱2,035
$42.59JOD 30.16
-24.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65₱419
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.65₱356
$11.44JOD 8.10
-50.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Kerak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$275₱17.3K
$140JOD 99.0
96.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,918₱498.5K
$3,415JOD 2,418
131.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Kerak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33₱3,106
$63.8JOD 45.17
-22.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24₱1,589
$83.2JOD 58.9
-69.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0₱4,846
$124JOD 87.6
-37.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2₱3,601
$86.8JOD 61.4
-34.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Kerak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500₱31.5K
$181JOD 128
176.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₱19.4K
$227JOD 160
36.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,078₱67.9K
$277JOD 196
288.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$615₱38.7K
$321JOD 227
91.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,886₱181.7K
$215JOD 153
1239.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,917₱120.7K
$280JOD 198
584.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Kerak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$346₱21.8K
$521JOD 369
-33.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
6.81
5.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026
Last update for Kerak: October 12, 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%
Kerak
$227 23.7% ↓ 26.6%$82
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206 22.4%
Kerak
$224 23.4% ↑ 8.7%$18
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162 17.6%
Kerak
$155 16.3% ↓ 4.1%$6.6
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94 10.2%
Kerak
$161 16.8% ↑ 71.2%$67
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Kerak
$115 12.1% ↑ 30.6%$27
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44 4.8%
Kerak
$65 6.9% ↑ 50.1%$22
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$16 1.7%
Kerak
$7.8 * 0.8% ↓ 50.2%$7.8
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$615 32.4%
Kerak
$321 15.7% ↓ 47.8%$294
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$483 25.4%
Kerak
$476 23.3% ↓ 1.3%$6.4
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$176 9.3%
Kerak
$171 8.4% ↓ 2.8%$4.9
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$209 11%
Kerak
$357 17.5% ↑ 71.2%$149
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$292 15.4%
Kerak
$571 28% ↑ 95.5%$279
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$94 4.9%
Kerak
$131 * 6.4% ↑ 39.5%$37
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$32 1.7%
Kerak
$16 * 0.8% ↓ 50.9%$16
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 $500 in Cebu and $181 in Kerak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kerak pays 51% 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 $72.0 in Kerak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $224 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 Kerak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kerak cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Kerak?
On paper, salaries run 51% lower in Kerak. 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 Kerak?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $181 in Kerak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cebu and in Kerak?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Kerak. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Kerak?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $955 in Kerak – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 enough for either Cebu or Kerak?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Cebu gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Cebu or Kerak more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kerak, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Kerak?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Kerak 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 4% less than in Kerak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.