Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Modena

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $1,878 in Modena, rent and utilities included – about $11,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Modena
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,878
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Modena

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $934 in Cebu versus $1,878 in Modena.

  • Cebu $934
  • Modena $1,878

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,415 in Cebu versus $3,029 in Modena.

  • Cebu $1,415
  • Modena $3,029

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,896 in Cebu versus $4,179 in Modena.

  • Cebu $1,896
  • Modena $4,179

Living in Cebu costs roughly 50% less than in Modena, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 30% below, Modena is 40% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Modena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03 ₱190
$22.22 €19.83
-86.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48 ₱1,473
$88.7 €79.1
-73.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.09 ₱256
$13.50 €12.05
-69.70%
Cappuccino
$2.52 ₱158
$1.91 €1.71
31.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₱96.9
$2.96 €2.64
-47.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₱30.98
$1.65 €1.47
-70.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.79 ₱112
$6.65 €5.93
-73.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ₱142
$5.55 €4.96
-59.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Modena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ₱122
$1.51 €1.35
29.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ₱89.7
$2.54 €2.27
-43.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 ₱63.8
$1.66 €1.48
-38.55%
Eggs
$2.06 ₱129
$4.87 €4.35
-57.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 ₱615
$20.54 €18.33
-52.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.61 ₱289
$13.92 €12.42
-66.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.70 ₱483
$21.10 €18.83
-63.51%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 ₱207
$2.68 €2.39
23.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₱90.9
$2.49 €2.22
-41.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$3.22 €2.88
-26.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ₱96.4
$3.11 €2.78
-50.48%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$2.41 €2.15
-2.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 ₱125
$1.72 €1.54
15.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 ₱72.1
$1.36 €1.22
-15.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₱42.15
$0.67 €0.59
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱188
$6.63 €5.92
-54.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.35 ₱398
$8.92 €7.96
-28.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₱81.9
$1.56 €1.39
-16.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₱108
$2.52 €2.25
-31.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Modena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.78
$2.25 €2.01
-88.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.65 ₱793
$38.94 €34.75
-67.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱46.32
$6.68 €5.96
-88.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.11
$1.46 €1.31
-85.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.33 ₱271
$32.55 €29.05
-86.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₱83.5
$2.11 €1.88
-36.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₱1.4M
$35.8K €32.0K
-39.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ₱1.2M
$36.0K €32.1K
-46.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Modena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 ₱7,563
$190 €169
-36.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.45 ₱907
$13.17 €11.75
9.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.29 ₱1,774
$31.70 €28.29
-10.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Modena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.68 ₱2,050
$79.4 €70.9
-58.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.39 ₱401
$22.90 €20.44
-72.10%
Cinema Ticket
$5.46 ₱342
$11.03 €9.84
-50.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Modena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$273 ₱17.1K
$565 €505
-51.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,156 ₱511.5K
$15.2K €13.6K
-46.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Modena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.57 ₱3,109
$85.4 €76.2
-41.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.87 ₱1,560
$42.56 €37.98
-41.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 ₱4,804
$98.6 €88.0
-22.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3 ₱3,717
$105 €93.3
-43.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Modena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$506 ₱31.7K
$832 €743
-39.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$664 €593
-53.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,052 ₱66.0K
$1,720 €1,535
-38.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$619 ₱38.8K
$1,340 €1,195
-53.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,915 ₱182.9K
$3,595 €3,208
-18.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,867 ₱117.1K
$2,144 €1,913
-12.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Modena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$341 ₱21.4K
$2,062 €1,840
-83.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
3.29
118.84%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Last update for Modena: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Modena
$664 115% $355
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210
Modena
$373 77.2% $162
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163
Modena
$235 43.7% $71
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$95
Modena
$149 57.5% $54
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Modena
$304 244% $216
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Modena
$101 133% $58
Getting Around
Cebu
$15
Modena
$62 301% $47

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $506 in Cebu and $832 in Modena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Modena pays 504% 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: $23.00 in Cebu vs $89.0 in Modena for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $373 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇮🇹 Modena
🕒 Local time
13:22 1:22 PM
07:22 7:22 AM
6 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
184,973
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.35 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Modena 10,950 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Modena

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 Modena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Modena cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 101% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Modena?
On paper, salaries run 504% lower in Modena. 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 Modena?
Rent for a central apartment: $506 in Cebu versus $832 in Modena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Modena?
All in, you'll spend $934 per month in Cebu versus $1,878 in Modena – a 101% 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 208% less than in Modena. 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 Modena?
At $934 in Cebu versus $1,878 in Modena, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Modena. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Modena more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Modena, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Modena?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Modena 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 101% less than in Modena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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