Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Neum

For one person, living costs are similar in Cebu and in Neum: $918 and $955 a month, rent and utilities included.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Neum
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$955
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Neum

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $955 in Neum.

  • Cebu $918
  • Neum $955

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $1,410 in Neum.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Neum $1,410

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $1,866 in Neum.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Neum $1,866

Living in Cebu costs roughly 4% less than in Neum, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Neum 29% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Neum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$5.29 BAM 9.23
-41.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,520
$30.98 BAM 54.1
-21.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱246
$5.67 BAM 9.90
-30.86%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱157
$1.90 BAM 3.32
32.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱99.9
$1.90 BAM 3.32
-16.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.33
$1.18 BAM 2.07
-55.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$2.52 BAM 4.40
-29.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱136
$2.19 BAM 3.82
-0.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Neum
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱120
$1.12 BAM 1.96
71.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.2
$0.95 BAM 1.65
43.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.3
$2.07 BAM 3.61
-51.21%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱127
$2.57 BAM 4.48
-21.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱619
$7.88 BAM 13.75
25.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱276
$7.37 BAM 12.86
-40.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱477
$10.39 BAM 18.13
-26.85%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱207
$1.12 BAM 1.96
194.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.5
$1.62 BAM 2.83
-14.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱146
$1.36 BAM 2.37
71.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.0
$1.20 BAM 2.09
25.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$0.98 BAM 1.71
140.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$0.99 BAM 1.72
91.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.7
$0.76 BAM 1.32
56.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.59
$0.71 BAM 1.24
-11.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$3.93 BAM 6.86
-23.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱378
$3.99 BAM 6.96
51.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.4
$0.78 BAM 1.36
57.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$0.89 BAM 1.55
96.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Neum
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.81
$1.27 BAM 2.21
-80.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱793
$57.4 BAM 100
-77.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.47
$1.74 BAM 3.04
-55.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.49
$0.60 BAM 1.04
-61.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱280
$5.79 BAM 10.10
-22.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.5
$1.55 BAM 2.70
-15.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$29.9K BAM 52.1K
-28.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$21.3K BAM 37.2K
-10.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Neum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,547
$135 BAM 236
-11.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱879
$17.64 BAM 30.79
-20.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,729
$25.86 BAM 45.14
6.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Neum
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,029
$32.47 BAM 56.7
-0.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱417
$11.52 BAM 20.11
-42.27%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱355
$5.74 BAM 10.01
-1.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Neum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$198 BAM 345
39.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱497.0K
$2,317 BAM 4,044
241.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Neum
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,097
$59.4 BAM 104
-16.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,585
$33.42 BAM 58.3
-24.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,831
$85.8 BAM 150
-10.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,590
$83.3 BAM 145
-31.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Neum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.4K
$345 BAM 602
44.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$248 BAM 432
24.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.7K
$506 BAM 883
112.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.6K
$355 BAM 620
73.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.2K
$2,410 BAM 4,206
19.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.3K
$1,786 BAM 3,117
7.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Neum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.7K
$847 BAM 1,479
-59.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
2.9
148.28%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Neum: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Neum
$248 19.8% $61
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Neum
$188 8.8% $18
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Neum
$179 10.6% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Neum
$118 25.5% $24
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Neum
$112 26.4% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Neum
$44 0.7% $0.3
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Neum
$67 332% $52

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $345 in Neum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Neum pays 145% 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 $31.00 in Neum. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $188, with Neum cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇧🇦 Neum
🕒 Local time
18:41 6:41 PM
12:41 12:41 PM
6 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
3,200
Exchange rates and currency converter

BAM, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 62.77 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.33 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BAM (1 BAM = 0.573 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BAM (1 BAM = 0.511 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Neum 10,520 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Neum

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 Neum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Neum cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in clothing, eating out, and leisure. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Neum?
On paper, salaries run 145% lower in Neum. 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 Neum?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $345 in Neum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Neum?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $955 in Neum – a 4% 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 354% less than in Neum. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Cebu or Neum?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Cebu gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Cebu or Neum more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Neum, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Neum?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Neum 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 4% less than in Neum. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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