Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Masvingo

For one person, living is cheaper in Masvingo: $606 a month against $934 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $3,900 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Cebu outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Masvingo
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
$606
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Masvingo

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $934 in Cebu versus $606 in Masvingo.

  • Cebu $934
  • Masvingo $606

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,415 in Cebu versus $1,005 in Masvingo.

  • Cebu $1,415
  • Masvingo $1,005

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,896 in Cebu versus $1,405 in Masvingo.

  • Cebu $1,896
  • Masvingo $1,405

Living in Cebu is roughly 54% more expensive than in Masvingo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 30% lower, Masvingo 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Masvingo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03 ₱190
$10.03 ZWL 268
-69.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48 ₱1,473
$44.87 ZWL 1,198
-47.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.09 ₱256
$5.92 ZWL 158
-30.91%
Cappuccino
$2.52 ₱158
$2.93 ZWL 78.3
-13.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₱96.9
$1.01 ZWL 26.90
52.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₱30.98
$0.45 ZWL 11.96
8.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.79 ₱112
$1.26 ZWL 33.70
42.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ₱142
$2.02 ZWL 53.9
11.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Masvingo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ₱122
$1.54 ZWL 41.12
26.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ₱89.7
$1.03 ZWL 27.40
38.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 ₱63.8
$1.69 ZWL 45.14
-39.64%
Eggs
$2.06 ₱129
$1.95 ZWL 52.1
5.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 ₱615
$11.57 ZWL 309
-15.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.61 ₱289
$5.52 ZWL 147
-16.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.70 ₱483
$6.50 ZWL 173
18.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 ₱207
$2.92 ZWL 78.1
13.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₱90.9
$1.63 ZWL 43.45
-11.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$1.99 ZWL 53.2
18.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ₱96.4
$1.58 ZWL 42.20
-2.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$1.71 ZWL 45.59
38.01%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 ₱125
$1.79 ZWL 47.74
11.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 ₱72.1
$1.28 ZWL 34.18
-10.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₱42.15
$0.94 ZWL 25.15
-28.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱188
$1.94 ZWL 51.9
54.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.35 ₱398
$8.22 ZWL 219
-22.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₱81.9
$1.38 ZWL 36.74
-5.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₱108
$1.96 ZWL 52.4
-11.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Masvingo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.78
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.65 ₱793
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱46.32
$4.08 ZWL 109
-81.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.11
$2.01 ZWL 53.7
-89.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.33 ₱271
$4.92 ZWL 131
-11.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₱83.5
$1.85 ZWL 49.47
-28.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₱1.4M
$21.9K ZWL 583.3K
-0.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ₱1.2M
$27.4K ZWL 732.5K
-29.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Masvingo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 ₱7,563
$50.7 ZWL 1,354
137.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.45 ₱907
$21.58 ZWL 576
-33.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.29 ₱1,774
$69.9 ZWL 1,866
-59.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Masvingo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.68 ₱2,050
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.39 ₱401
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.46 ₱342
$10.06 ZWL 268
-45.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Masvingo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$273 ₱17.1K
$441 ZWL 11.8K
-38.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,156 ₱511.5K
$8,395 ZWL 224.1K
-2.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Masvingo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.57 ₱3,109
$23.54 ZWL 628
110.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.87 ₱1,560
$21.02 ZWL 561
18.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 ₱4,804
$38.55 ZWL 1,029
98.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3 ₱3,717
$39.69 ZWL 1,059
49.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Masvingo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$506 ₱31.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,052 ₱66.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$619 ₱38.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,915 ₱182.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,867 ₱117.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Masvingo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$341 ₱21.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
13.69
-47.41%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Last update for Masvingo: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Masvingo
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210
Masvingo
$215 2% $4.3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163
Masvingo
$142 12.9% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$95
Masvingo
$55 41.6% $39
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Masvingo
$149 69% $61
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Masvingo
$20 * 53.9% $23
Getting Around
Cebu
$15
Masvingo
$14 * 8.4% $1.3

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

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $23.00 in Cebu vs $45.00 in Masvingo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $215 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇿🇼 Masvingo
🕒 Local time
11:21 11:21 AM
05:21 5:21 AM
6 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
72,527
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZWL, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.29 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

Zimbabwean Dollar exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 26.69 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.75 USD). 1 EUR = 29.91 ZWL (100 ZWL = 3.34 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Masvingo 10,710 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Masvingo

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 Masvingo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Masvingo cheaper than Cebu?
Masvingo is cheaper overall, especially in clothing, leisure, and transport. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,401 in Cebu and $908 in Masvingo 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.
How do food prices compare in Cebu and in Masvingo?
Shoppers in Cebu pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Masvingo?
All in, you'll spend $934 per month in Cebu versus $606 in Masvingo – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,200 enough for either Cebu or Masvingo?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Masvingo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Cebu or Masvingo more family-friendly?
For families, Masvingo 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 Masvingo?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Masvingo 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 Masvingo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Cebu vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?