Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Kumasi

For one person, living is cheaper in Kumasi: $488 a month against $918 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Kumasi
🇬🇭 Ghana
$488
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Kumasi

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $488 in Kumasi.

  • Cebu $918
  • Kumasi $488

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $805 in Kumasi.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Kumasi $805

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $1,123 in Kumasi.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Kumasi $1,123

Living in Cebu is roughly 88% more expensive than in Kumasi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Kumasi 64% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Kumasi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$3.50 GHS 40.74
-11.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$33.71 GHS 392
-28.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$10.15 GHS 118
-61.38%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$1.08 GHS 12.53
132.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$0.71 GHS 8.22
123.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$0.26 GHS 3.05
103.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$0.91 GHS 10.53
95.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$1.66 GHS 19.34
30.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Kumasi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$1.78 GHS 20.65
7.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$1.64 GHS 19.09
-17.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$1.75 GHS 20.35
-42.29%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$2.39 GHS 27.81
-15.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$5.49 GHS 63.8
79.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$4.54 GHS 52.8
-3.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$4.81 GHS 55.9
58.00%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$1.68 GHS 19.50
96.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$0.83 GHS 9.66
67.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$0.84 GHS 9.73
177.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$2.10 GHS 24.39
-28.57%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$1.66 GHS 19.34
42.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$1.28 GHS 14.89
48.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$0.75 GHS 8.70
58.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$0.57 GHS 6.59
10.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$0.87 GHS 10.18
244.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
$1.25 GHS 14.56
382.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$1.22 GHS 14.22
0.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$2.40 GHS 27.88
-27.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Kumasi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
$0.52 GHS 6.09
-51.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
$20.34 GHS 237
-37.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$0.82 GHS 9.49
-6.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$1.24 GHS 14.44
-81.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$1.72 GHS 20.03
159.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$1.13 GHS 13.18
15.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$7,902 GHS 91.9K
168.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$9,972 GHS 116.0K
92.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Kumasi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$41.97 GHS 488
186.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$19.43 GHS 226
-27.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$42.24 GHS 491
-34.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Kumasi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$30.23 GHS 352
6.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$12.60 GHS 147
-55.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Kumasi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$459 GHS 5,337
-40.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$5,536 GHS 64.4K
43.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Kumasi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$14.50 GHS 169
240.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$18.32 GHS 213
37.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$35.88 GHS 417
114.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$51.8 GHS 602
10.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Kumasi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Kumasi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
$408 GHS 4,750
-15.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
26.75
-73.08%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Kumasi: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Kumasi
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Kumasi
$162 21.2% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Kumasi
$104 35.9% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Kumasi
$54 42.3% $40
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Kumasi
$83 5.8% $5.1
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Kumasi
$55 27.1% $12
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Kumasi
$29 89.2% $14

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Kumasi pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $34.00 in Kumasi. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $162, with Kumasi cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇬🇭 Kumasi
🕒 Local time
06:17 6:17 AM
22:17 10:17 PM
8 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
1,517,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GHS, 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).

Ghanaian Cedi exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 11.63 GHS (100 GHS = 8.6 USD). 1 EUR = 13.07 GHS (100 GHS = 7.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Kumasi 13,690 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Kumasi

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 Kumasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kumasi cheaper than Cebu?
Kumasi 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 Kumasi?
On paper, salaries run 18% lower in Kumasi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Kumasi?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $488 in Kumasi – 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 Kumasi runs roughly 61% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,200 enough for either Cebu or Kumasi?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kumasi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Cebu or Kumasi more family-friendly?
For families, Kumasi 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 Kumasi?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Kumasi 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 Kumasi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 88% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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