For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $2,231 in Molde, rent and utilities included – about $15,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
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 Molde actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $2,231 in Molde.
Cebu $918
Molde $2,231
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $3,464 in Molde.
Cebu $1,409
Molde $3,464
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $4,697 in Molde.
Cebu $1,900
Molde $4,697
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 59% less than in Molde, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 32% below, Molde is 65% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Molde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09₱194
$17.10NOK 161
-81.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22₱1,525
$96.2NOK 905
-74.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.92₱247
$13.25NOK 125
-70.42%
Cappuccino
$2.51₱158
$4.11NOK 38.70
-38.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59₱100
$3.00NOK 28.21
-47.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53₱33.43
$3.34NOK 31.45
-84.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78₱112
$12.71NOK 120
-86.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱137
$11.27NOK 106
-80.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Molde
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92₱121
$2.91NOK 27.37
-34.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36₱85.4
$4.17NOK 39.22
-67.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01₱63.5
$3.92NOK 36.87
-74.23%
Eggs
$2.03₱128
$5.24NOK 49.35
-61.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.86₱621
$17.98NOK 169
-45.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.39₱277
$15.75NOK 148
-72.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60₱479
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.30₱208
$3.32NOK 31.29
-0.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39₱87.8
$3.10NOK 29.20
-55.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33₱147
$3.10NOK 29.16
-24.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50₱94.3
$4.76NOK 44.84
-68.49%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36₱149
$2.45NOK 23.05
-3.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90₱119
$2.35NOK 22.11
-19.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₱74.9
$2.73NOK 25.66
-56.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63₱39.71
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00₱189
$19.77NOK 186
-84.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.03₱379
$23.12NOK 218
-73.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23₱77.7
$4.23NOK 39.78
-70.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75₱110
$7.68NOK 72.3
-77.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Molde
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.86
$5.02NOK 47.24
-95.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.64₱796
$82.8NOK 779
-84.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77₱48.62
$15.41NOK 145
-95.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱14.53
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.46₱281
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31₱82.8
$2.32NOK 21.82
-43.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K₱1.3M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K₱1.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Molde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120₱7,569
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00₱882
$21.17NOK 199
-33.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54₱1,734
$84.9NOK 800
-67.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Molde
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.33₱2,035
$57.6NOK 542
-43.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65₱419
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.65₱356
$18.48NOK 174
-69.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Molde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$275₱17.3K
$207NOK 1,953
32.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,918₱498.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Molde
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33₱3,106
$108NOK 1,021
-54.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24₱1,589
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0₱4,846
$135NOK 1,272
-43.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2₱3,601
$157NOK 1,482
-63.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Molde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500₱31.5K
$1,249NOK 11.8K
-59.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₱19.4K
$977NOK 9,199
-68.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,078₱67.9K
$1,854NOK 17.5K
-41.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$615₱38.7K
$1,666NOK 15.7K
-63.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,886₱181.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,917₱120.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Molde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$346₱21.8K
$4,256NOK 40.1K
-91.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
4.8
50.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026
Last update for Molde: October 10, 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%
Molde
$977 43.8% ↑ 216%$668
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206 22.4%
Molde
$417 * 18.7% ↑ 103%$211
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162 17.6%
Molde
$106 * 4.8% ↓ 34.4%$56
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94 10.2%
Molde
$180 * 8.1% ↑ 92.1%$87
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Molde
$337 15.1% ↑ 282%$249
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44 4.8%
Molde
$95 4.2% ↑ 117%$51
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$16 1.7%
Molde
$118 * 5.3% ↑ 660%$103
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$615 32.4%
Molde
$1.7K 35.5% ↑ 171%$1.1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$483 25.4%
Molde
$929 * 19.8% ↑ 92.4%$446
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$176 9.3%
Molde
$127 * 2.7% ↓ 27.6%$48
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$209 11%
Molde
$401 * 8.5% ↑ 92.1%$192
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$292 15.4%
Molde
$1.1K 24.2% ↑ 290%$846
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$94 4.9%
Molde
$189 * 4% ↑ 101%$95
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$32 1.7%
Molde
$247 * 5.3% ↑ 679%$215
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 $1,249 in Molde. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Molde pays 1130% 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 $96.0 in Molde for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $417 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 Molde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Molde cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 143% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Molde?
On paper, salaries run 1130% lower in Molde. 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 Molde?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $1,249 in Molde. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Molde?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $2,231 in Molde – a 143% 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 555% less than in Molde. 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 Molde?
At $918 in Cebu versus $2,231 in Molde, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Molde. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Molde more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Molde, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Molde?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Molde 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 143% less than in Molde. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.