For one person, living is cheaper in Narok: $615 a month against $915 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $3,600 less a year. Rent and utilities 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 Narok actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $915 in Cebu versus $615 in Narok.
Cebu $915
Narok $615
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,418 in Cebu versus $928 in Narok.
Cebu $1,418
Narok $928
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,921 in Cebu versus $1,242 in Narok.
Cebu $1,921
Narok $1,242
🌍
Living in Cebu is roughly 49% more expensive than in Narok, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu33% lower, Narok55% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Narok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.05₱192
$2.37KES 307
28.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.00₱1,511
$23.19KES 3,007
3.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.99₱251
$4.66KES 604
-14.38%
Cappuccino
$2.50₱157
$1.96KES 254
27.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54₱97.1
$0.41KES 53.1
275.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50₱31.37
$0.22KES 28.44
127.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78₱112
$1.91KES 248
-6.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱136
$2.26KES 293
-3.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Narok
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00₱126
$0.80KES 104
150.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.37₱86.2
$0.48KES 62.6
185.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03₱64.9
$1.43KES 185
-27.97%
Eggs
$2.03₱128
$1.21KES 156
67.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20₱642
$6.20KES 804
64.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.45₱280
$6.15KES 797
-27.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.67₱483
$6.03KES 782
27.20%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31₱208
$3.06KES 397
8.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46₱91.8
$1.09KES 141
33.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32₱146
$1.97KES 255
17.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49₱94.0
$0.79KES 102
88.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.34₱147
$0.79KES 102
196.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94₱122
$0.78KES 102
148.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16₱73.0
$0.73KES 95.2
58.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68₱42.89
$0.52KES 67.9
30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99₱188
$1.58KES 205
89.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.24₱393
$7.09KES 919
-11.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23₱77.3
$1.96KES 255
-37.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73₱109
$2.37KES 307
-27.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Narok
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23₱14.36
$1.13KES 147
-79.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.34₱777
$38.85KES 5,036
-68.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79₱49.96
$1.50KES 194
-47.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₱13.86
$1.33KES 173
-83.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.54₱286
$1.14KES 148
298.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32₱82.9
$1.38KES 179
-4.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K₱1.3M
$19.3KKES 2.5M
8.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K₱1.2M
$20.5KKES 2.7M
-5.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Narok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$119₱7,464
$56.3KES 7,303
110.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.22₱896
$7.88KES 1,022
80.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.47₱1,730
$22.68KES 2,940
21.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Narok
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.31₱2,034
$23.27KES 3,017
38.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.50₱409
$2.32KES 301
180.17%
Cinema Ticket
$5.40₱340
$7.79KES 1,011
-30.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Narok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$276₱17.4K
$58.2KES 7,543
374.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,866₱495.3K
$7,810KES 1.0M
0.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Narok
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.37₱3,108
$15.41KES 1,998
220.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.58₱1,548
$15.62KES 2,025
57.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.6₱4,825
$23.48KES 3,045
226.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.9₱3,706
$38.41KES 4,979
53.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Narok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$503₱31.7K
$227KES 29.4K
121.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305₱19.2K
$156KES 20.2K
95.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,075₱67.7K
$312KES 40.4K
245.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632₱39.8K
$235KES 30.5K
169.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,870₱180.7K
$1,548KES 200.7K
85.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,877₱118.2K
$1,143KES 148.2K
64.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Narok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$336₱21.1K
$309KES 40.1K
8.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
13
-44.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 19, 2026
Last update for Narok: October 19, 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
$305 33.3%
Narok
$156 25.4% ↓ 48.7%$148
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210 22.9%
Narok
$166 27.1% ↓ 20.6%$43
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$160 17.5%
Narok
$87 14.1% ↓ 45.8%$73
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94 10.3%
Narok
$42 6.8% ↓ 55.6%$52
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Narok
$73 11.9% ↓ 16.8%$15
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$43 4.7%
Narok
$39 6.3% ↓ 9.8%$4.2
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$15 1.7%
Narok
$52 8.4% ↑ 240%$36
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$632 32.9%
Narok
$235 18.9% ↓ 62.8%$397
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$491 25.6%
Narok
$377 30.4% ↓ 23.3%$114
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$174 9.1%
Narok
$95 7.6% ↓ 45.7%$80
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$209 10.9%
Narok
$93 7.5% ↓ 55.6%$117
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$290 15.1%
Narok
$257 20.7% ↓ 11.4%$33
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$93 4.8%
Narok
$80 6.4% ↓ 13.7%$13
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$31 1.6%
Narok
$105 8.5% ↑ 243%$75
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $503 in Cebu and $227 in Narok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cebu pays 9% 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 $23.00 in Narok for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $166 per month, with Narok 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 Narok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Narok cheaper than Cebu?
Narok is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Narok?
Average pay runs 9% higher in Cebu, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Cebu and Narok?
Rent for a central apartment: $503 in Cebu versus $227 in Narok. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Narok?
All in, you'll spend $915 per month in Cebu versus $615 in Narok – a 49% 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 Narok runs roughly 215% 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 Narok?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Narok gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Cebu or Narok more family-friendly?
For families, Narok 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 Narok?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Narok 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 Narok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.