Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Mumbai (Bombay)

For one person, living is cheaper in Mumbai (Bombay): $769 a month against $934 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Mumbai (Bombay)
🇮🇳 India
$769
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Mumbai (Bombay)

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 Mumbai (Bombay) actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $934 in Cebu versus $769 in Mumbai (Bombay).

  • Cebu $934
  • Mumbai (Bombay) $769

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,415 in Cebu versus $1,281 in Mumbai (Bombay).

  • Cebu $1,415
  • Mumbai (Bombay) $1,281

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,896 in Cebu versus $1,793 in Mumbai (Bombay).

  • Cebu $1,896
  • Mumbai (Bombay) $1,793

Living in Cebu is roughly 22% more expensive than in Mumbai (Bombay), and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 30% lower, Mumbai (Bombay) 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03 ₱191
$5.29 ₹512
-42.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48 ₱1,476
$21.16 ₹2,048
10.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.09 ₱257
$4.08 ₹394
0.25%
Cappuccino
$2.52 ₱158
$2.61 ₹253
-3.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₱97.2
$0.36 ₹35.00
327.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₱31.06
$0.13 ₹12.56
276.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.79 ₱113
$2.63 ₹255
-31.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ₱142
$4.12 ₹398
-45.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ₱122
$0.73 ₹70.5
167.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ₱89.9
$0.50 ₹48.39
186.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 ₱64.0
$0.76 ₹73.6
34.21%
Eggs
$2.06 ₱129
$1.00 ₹96.9
106.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 ₱617
$5.56 ₹538
76.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.61 ₱290
$3.60 ₹349
28.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.70 ₱484
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 ₱208
$2.15 ₹208
53.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₱91.2
$0.72 ₹69.8
101.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$1.24 ₹120
90.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ₱96.6
$0.50 ₹48.21
208.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$0.34 ₹32.59
594.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 ₱125
$0.37 ₹35.51
437.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 ₱72.3
$0.44 ₹42.60
161.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₱42.26
$0.28 ₹26.87
139.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$5.08 ₹491
-40.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.35 ₱399
$8.32 ₹805
-23.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₱82.1
$1.94 ₹188
-32.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₱109
$3.07 ₹297
-43.65%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.16 ₹596
-
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.82
$0.22 ₹21.29
13.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.65 ₱796
$5.61 ₹543
125.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱46.44
$0.31 ₹29.53
138.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.15
$0.33 ₹31.47
-36.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.33 ₱272
$1.54 ₹149
181.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₱83.7
$1.15 ₹111
15.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₱1.4M
$15.7K ₹1.5M
38.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ₱1.2M
$21.8K ₹2.1M
-11.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 ₱7,583
$60.7 ₹5,877
98.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.45 ₱909
$4.39 ₹425
229.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.29 ₱1,779
$8.80 ₹852
221.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.68 ₱2,055
$26.08 ₹2,525
25.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.39 ₱402
$13.19 ₹1,277
-51.55%
Cinema Ticket
$5.46 ₱343
$4.49 ₹434
21.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$273 ₱17.2K
$114 ₹11.0K
140.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,156 ₱512.9K
$5,082 ₹491.9K
60.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.57 ₱3,117
$36.13 ₹3,497
37.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.87 ₱1,564
$39.96 ₹3,867
-37.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 ₱4,817
$54.5 ₹5,270
40.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3 ₱3,727
$47.98 ₹4,644
23.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$506 ₱31.8K
$598 ₹57.9K
-15.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.5K
$344 ₹33.3K
-10.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,052 ₱66.1K
$1,797 ₹173.9K
-41.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$619 ₱38.9K
$866 ₹83.8K
-28.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,915 ₱183.4K
$5,811 ₹562.3K
-49.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,867 ₱117.4K
$2,418 ₹234.0K
-22.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Mumbai (Bombay)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$341 ₱21.5K
$768 ₹74.4K
-55.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
8.29
-13.15%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Last update for Mumbai (Bombay): October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Mumbai (Bombay)
$344 11.2% $35
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210
Mumbai (Bombay)
$116 44.9% $94
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163
Mumbai (Bombay)
$74 54.7% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$95
Mumbai (Bombay)
$80 15.1% $14
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Mumbai (Bombay)
$109 23.6% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Mumbai (Bombay)
$35 19.6% $8.5
Getting Around
Cebu
$15
Mumbai (Bombay)
$8.4 45.5% $7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $506 in Cebu and $598 in Mumbai (Bombay). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mumbai (Bombay) pays 125% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23.00 in Cebu vs $21.00 in Mumbai (Bombay) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $116 per month, with Mumbai (Bombay) cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇮🇳 Mumbai (Bombay)
🕒 Local time
09:39 9:39 AM
07:09 7:09 AM
2 h 30 min behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
12,442,373
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.89 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.54 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 96.78 INR (100 INR = 1.03 USD). 1 EUR = 109 INR (1,000 INR = 9.21 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Mumbai (Bombay) 5,560 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Mumbai (Bombay)

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 Mumbai (Bombay): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mumbai (Bombay) cheaper than Cebu?
Mumbai (Bombay) is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Mumbai (Bombay)?
On paper, salaries run 125% lower in Mumbai (Bombay). 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 Mumbai (Bombay)?
Rent for a central apartment: $506 in Cebu versus $598 in Mumbai (Bombay). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Mumbai (Bombay)?
All in, you'll spend $934 per month in Cebu versus $769 in Mumbai (Bombay) – a 22% 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 Mumbai (Bombay) runs roughly 125% 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 Mumbai (Bombay)?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Mumbai (Bombay) gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Cebu or Mumbai (Bombay) more family-friendly?
For families, Mumbai (Bombay) 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 Mumbai (Bombay)?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Mumbai (Bombay) 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 Mumbai (Bombay) gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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