Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Ostersund

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,729 in Ostersund, rent and utilities included – about $9,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Ostersund
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,729
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Ostersund

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $1,729 in Ostersund.

  • Cebu $918
  • Ostersund $1,729

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $2,687 in Ostersund.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Ostersund $2,687

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $3,644 in Ostersund.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Ostersund $3,644

Living in Cebu costs roughly 47% less than in Ostersund, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 32% below, Ostersund is 28% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Ostersund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$13.35 SEK 132
-76.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$75.1 SEK 744
-67.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$10.07 SEK 99.8
-61.07%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$4.53 SEK 44.86
-44.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$2.56 SEK 25.38
-37.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$2.16 SEK 21.42
-75.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$7.03 SEK 69.7
-74.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$6.97 SEK 69.0
-68.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Ostersund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$1.43 SEK 14.16
34.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$2.94 SEK 29.16
-53.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$4.58 SEK 45.43
-77.95%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$3.22 SEK 31.91
-36.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$13.29 SEK 132
-25.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$11.28 SEK 112
-61.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$14.94 SEK 148
-49.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$4.11 SEK 40.73
-19.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$2.77 SEK 27.49
-49.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$3.53 SEK 34.95
-33.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$3.87 SEK 38.37
-61.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$1.61 SEK 15.96
46.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$1.55 SEK 15.38
22.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$2.20 SEK 21.82
-45.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$1.40 SEK 13.87
-55.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$7.85 SEK 77.8
-61.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
$10.11 SEK 100
-40.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$1.96 SEK 19.38
-37.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$2.21 SEK 21.91
-20.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Ostersund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
$3.33 SEK 32.96
-92.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
$76.5 SEK 758
-83.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$5.85 SEK 57.9
-86.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$1.70 SEK 16.80
-86.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$58.8 SEK 583
-92.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$1.81 SEK 17.94
-27.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$33.3K SEK 329.5K
-36.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$32.1K SEK 317.8K
-40.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Ostersund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$104 SEK 1,031
15.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$23.74 SEK 235
-41.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$38.74 SEK 384
-28.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Ostersund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$37.10 SEK 368
-12.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
$26.47 SEK 262
-74.88%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$14.80 SEK 147
-61.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Ostersund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$124 SEK 1,231
121.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$5,033 SEK 49.9K
57.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Ostersund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$91.7 SEK 909
-46.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$40.11 SEK 397
-37.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$91.3 SEK 905
-15.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$138 SEK 1,366
-58.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Ostersund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$803 SEK 7,957
-37.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$615 SEK 6,094
-49.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$1,324 SEK 13.1K
-18.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
$1,013 SEK 10.0K
-39.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
$3,940 SEK 39.0K
-26.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$2,776 SEK 27.5K
-30.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Ostersund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
3.45
108.70%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Ostersund: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Ostersund
$615 99.2% $306
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Ostersund
$355 72.3% $149
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Ostersund
$167 2.9% $4.8
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Ostersund
$162 72.9% $69
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Ostersund
$259 194% $171
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Ostersund
$67 52.9% $23
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Ostersund
$104 569% $89

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $803 in Ostersund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $75.0 in Ostersund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $355 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇸🇪 Ostersund
🕒 Local time
10:51 10:51 AM
04:51 4:51 AM
6 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
44,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Ostersund 9,920 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Ostersund

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 Ostersund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ostersund cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 88% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,377 in Cebu and $2,593 in Ostersund to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Cebu and Ostersund?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $803 in Ostersund. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Ostersund?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $1,729 in Ostersund – a 88% 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 505% less than in Ostersund. 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 Ostersund?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,729 in Ostersund, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Ostersund. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Ostersund more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ostersund, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Ostersund?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Ostersund 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 88% less than in Ostersund. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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