For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $2,410 in Noumea, rent and utilities included – about $17,700 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 Noumea actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $934 in Cebu versus $2,410 in Noumea.
Cebu $934
Noumea $2,410
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,415 in Cebu versus $3,800 in Noumea.
Cebu $1,415
Noumea $3,800
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,896 in Cebu versus $5,190 in Noumea.
Cebu $1,896
Noumea $5,190
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 61% less than in Noumea, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 30% below, Noumea is 80% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Noumea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03₱191
$20.86CFPF 2,220
-85.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48₱1,476
$114CFPF 12.1K
-79.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.09₱257
$13.85CFPF 1,474
-70.47%
Cappuccino
$2.52₱158
$4.68CFPF 498
-46.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54₱97.2
$2.01CFPF 214
-23.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49₱31.06
$1.27CFPF 135
-61.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79₱113
$9.50CFPF 1,011
-81.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26₱142
$7.26CFPF 773
-68.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Noumea
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95₱122
$1.17CFPF 125
66.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43₱89.9
$3.58CFPF 381
-60.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02₱64.0
$2.16CFPF 230
-52.78%
Eggs
$2.06₱129
$6.13CFPF 653
-66.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81₱617
$30.21CFPF 3,215
-67.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.61₱290
$27.65CFPF 2,942
-83.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.70₱484
$28.19CFPF 3,000
-72.69%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31₱208
$4.58CFPF 487
-27.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45₱91.2
$7.29CFPF 776
-80.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.36₱148
$6.27CFPF 668
-62.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54₱96.6
$7.98CFPF 849
-80.70%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36₱148
$5.55CFPF 591
-57.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99₱125
$3.86CFPF 411
-48.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15₱72.3
$4.04CFPF 430
-71.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67₱42.26
$1.50CFPF 160
-55.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00₱189
$19.46CFPF 2,070
-84.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.35₱399
$17.03CFPF 1,812
-62.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31₱82.1
$5.54CFPF 590
-76.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73₱109
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Noumea
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.82
$4.62CFPF 491
-94.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.65₱796
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74₱46.44
$6.96CFPF 741
-89.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.21₱13.15
$1.11CFPF 119
-81.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.33₱272
$21.46CFPF 2,284
-79.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₱83.7
$1.63CFPF 174
-18.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K₱1.4M
$32.5KCFPF 3.5M
-33.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K₱1.2M
$37.3KCFPF 4.0M
-47.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Noumea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121₱7,583
$205CFPF 21.8K
-41.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.45₱909
$44.24CFPF 4,707
-67.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.29₱1,779
$48.09CFPF 5,117
-41.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Noumea
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.68₱2,055
$48.48CFPF 5,158
-32.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.39₱402
$8.25CFPF 878
-22.55%
Cinema Ticket
$5.46₱343
$14.26CFPF 1,517
-61.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Noumea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$273₱17.2K
$759CFPF 80.8K
-63.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,156₱512.9K
$9,318CFPF 991.4K
-12.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Noumea
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.57₱3,117
$111CFPF 11.9K
-55.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.87₱1,564
$65.0CFPF 6,912
-61.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.6₱4,817
$100CFPF 10.7K
-23.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3₱3,727
$247CFPF 26.3K
-76.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Noumea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$506₱31.8K
$761CFPF 80.9K
-33.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₱19.5K
$761CFPF 81.0K
-59.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,052₱66.1K
$1,520CFPF 161.7K
-30.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$619₱38.9K
$1,349CFPF 143.6K
-54.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,915₱183.4K
$4,777CFPF 508.3K
-38.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,867₱117.4K
$3,453CFPF 367.4K
-45.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Noumea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$341₱21.5K
$2,726CFPF 290.1K
-87.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
3.13
130.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026
Last update for Noumea: October 3, 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 33.5%
Noumea
$761 31.9% ↑ 146%$452
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210 22.7%
Noumea
$646 * 27.1% ↑ 207%$436
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163 17.7%
Noumea
$297 12.4% ↑ 81.8%$134
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$95 10.2%
Noumea
$236 9.9% ↑ 149%$141
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Noumea
$340 14.2% ↑ 285%$251
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44 4.7%
Noumea
$77 3.2% ↑ 76.6%$33
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$15 1.7%
Noumea
$31 * 1.3% ↑ 101%$16
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$619 32.4%
Noumea
$1.3K 25.9% ↑ 118%$730
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$493 25.8%
Noumea
$1.5K * 29% ↑ 207%$1K
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$178 9.3%
Noumea
$341 6.6% ↑ 91.9%$163
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$210 11%
Noumea
$523 10.1% ↑ 149%$313
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$288 15.1%
Noumea
$1.3K 24% ↑ 333%$962
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$94 4.9%
Noumea
$162 3.1% ↑ 73.4%$69
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$31 1.6%
Noumea
$71 * 1.4% ↑ 127%$40
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 $506 in Cebu and $761 in Noumea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Noumea pays 699% 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 $114 in Noumea for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $646 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 Noumea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Noumea cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 158% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Noumea?
On paper, salaries run 699% lower in Noumea. 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 Noumea?
Rent for a central apartment: $506 in Cebu versus $761 in Noumea. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cebu and in Noumea?
Supermarket bills run roughly 207% higher in Noumea. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Noumea?
All in, you'll spend $934 per month in Cebu versus $2,410 in Noumea – a 158% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cebu or in Noumea?
At $934 in Cebu versus $2,410 in Noumea, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Noumea. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Noumea more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Noumea, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Noumea?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Noumea 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 158% less than in Noumea. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.