Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Pec

For one person, living is cheaper in Pec: $665 a month against $918 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Pec
🇽🇰 Kosovo
$665
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Pec

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $665 in Pec.

  • Cebu $918
  • Pec $665

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $1,078 in Pec.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Pec $1,078

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $1,490 in Pec.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Pec $1,490

Living in Cebu is roughly 38% more expensive than in Pec, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Pec 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Pec
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$5.52 €4.91
-44.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$22.36 €19.89
8.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$4.33 €3.85
-9.47%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$1.32 €1.18
90.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$1.56 €1.39
1.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$1.05 €0.94
-49.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$1.96 €1.74
-9.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$2.77 €2.46
-21.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Pec
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$1.28 €1.13
50.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$0.63 €0.56
115.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$1.32 €1.17
-23.48%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$1.81 €1.61
12.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$7.63 €6.78
29.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$6.50 €5.78
-32.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$12.30 €10.94
-38.21%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$1.43 €1.27
130.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$1.42 €1.27
-2.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$1.11 €0.98
109.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$1.69 €1.51
-11.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$0.90 €0.80
162.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$0.87 €0.77
118.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$0.79 €0.71
50.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$0.50 €0.44
26.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$2.84 €2.53
5.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
$5.56 €4.94
8.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$0.88 €0.79
39.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$1.19 €1.06
47.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Pec
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$2.19 €1.94
-64.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$0.55 €0.49
-58.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$3.30 €2.94
35.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$1.42 €1.26
-7.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$22.3K €19.8K
-4.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$26.2K €23.3K
-26.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Pec
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$104 €92.3
15.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$11.14 €9.91
25.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$23.36 €20.78
17.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Pec
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$21.87 €19.46
47.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
$33.79 €30.06
-80.32%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$4.56 €4.06
23.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Pec
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$150 €133
84.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$2,954 €2,627
168.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Pec
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$41.97 €37.33
17.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$28.42 €25.28
-11.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$63.6 €56.6
21.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$81.5 €72.5
-29.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Pec
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$167 €149
198.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$111 €98.7
178.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$335 €298
221.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
$277 €247
121.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
$1,251 €1,112
130.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$1,043 €928
83.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Pec
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
$471 €419
-26.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
4.5
60.00%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Pec: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Pec
$111 64.1% $198
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Pec
$184 10.6% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Pec
$138 14.6% $24
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Pec
$97 3.2% $3
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Pec
$99 12% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Pec
$31 28.9% $13
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Pec
$4.9 * 68.3% $11

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 $500 in Cebu and $167 in Pec. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pec pays 36% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $22.00 in Pec for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $184 per month, with Pec cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇽🇰 Pec
🕒 Local time
19:25 7:25 PM
13:25 1:25 PM
6 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
48,962
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Pec 10,320 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Pec

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 Pec: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pec cheaper than Cebu?
Pec is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and utilities. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Pec?
On paper, salaries run 36% lower in Pec. 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 Pec?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $167 in Pec. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cebu and in Pec?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Pec?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $665 in Pec – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $800 enough for either Cebu or Pec?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Pec gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Cebu or Pec more family-friendly?
For families, Pec 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 Pec?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Pec 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 Pec gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Cebu vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?