For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $1,338 in Pecs, rent and utilities included – about $4,800 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 Pecs actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $934 in Cebu versus $1,338 in Pecs.
Cebu $934
Pecs $1,338
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,415 in Cebu versus $2,058 in Pecs.
Cebu $1,415
Pecs $2,058
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,896 in Cebu versus $2,777 in Pecs.
Cebu $1,896
Pecs $2,777
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 30% less than in Pecs, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 30% below, Pecs is 0% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Pecs
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03₱191
$11.29Ft 3,676
-73.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48₱1,476
$60.3Ft 19.6K
-61.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.09₱257
$9.21Ft 3,000
-55.59%
Cappuccino
$2.52₱158
$2.45Ft 798
2.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54₱97.2
$1.34Ft 436
14.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49₱31.06
$1.24Ft 404
-60.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79₱113
$1.71Ft 556
4.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26₱142
$2.23Ft 725
1.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Pecs
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95₱122
$1.23Ft 400
58.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43₱89.9
$1.57Ft 510
-8.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02₱64.0
$2.46Ft 802
-58.54%
Eggs
$2.06₱129
$3.28Ft 1,069
-37.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81₱617
$10.14Ft 3,302
-3.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.61₱290
$6.63Ft 2,158
-30.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.70₱484
$15.95Ft 5,193
-51.72%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31₱208
$2.38Ft 774
39.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45₱91.2
$2.28Ft 744
-36.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.36₱148
$2.53Ft 825
-6.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54₱96.6
$3.94Ft 1,282
-60.91%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36₱148
$1.12Ft 365
110.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99₱125
$1.35Ft 439
47.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15₱72.3
$1.87Ft 608
-38.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67₱42.26
$0.58Ft 190
15.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00₱189
$8.76Ft 2,854
-65.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.35₱399
$4.63Ft 1,508
37.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31₱82.1
$1.37Ft 445
-4.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73₱109
$2.61Ft 851
-33.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Pecs
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.82
$1.51Ft 491
-83.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.65₱796
$23.59Ft 7,681
-46.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74₱46.44
$3.30Ft 1,076
-77.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.21₱13.15
$1.46Ft 475
-85.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.33₱272
$24.60Ft 8,012
-82.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₱83.7
$1.79Ft 583
-25.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K₱1.4M
$30.0KFt 9.8M
-27.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K₱1.2M
$36.9KFt 12.0M
-47.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Pecs
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121₱7,583
$168Ft 54.9K
-28.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.45₱909
$20.30Ft 6,612
-28.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.29₱1,779
$21.23Ft 6,914
33.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Pecs
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.68₱2,055
$46.06Ft 15.0K
-29.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.39₱402
$18.68Ft 6,082
-65.79%
Cinema Ticket
$5.46₱343
$8.81Ft 2,870
-38.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Pecs
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$273₱17.2K
$420Ft 136.6K
-34.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,156₱512.9K
$7,762Ft 2.5M
5.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Pecs
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.57₱3,117
$101Ft 32.8K
-50.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.87₱1,564
$51.6Ft 16.8K
-51.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.6₱4,817
$98.0Ft 31.9K
-21.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3₱3,727
$109Ft 35.4K
-45.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Pecs
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$506₱31.8K
$619Ft 201.7K
-18.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₱19.5K
$444Ft 144.5K
-30.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,052₱66.1K
$987Ft 321.4K
6.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$619₱38.9K
$676Ft 220.1K
-8.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,915₱183.4K
$3,296Ft 1.1M
-11.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,867₱117.4K
$2,804Ft 913.3K
-33.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Pecs
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$341₱21.5K
$1,056Ft 343.8K
-67.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
8
-10.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026
Last update for Pecs: October 5, 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%
Pecs
$444 32.9% ↑ 43.4%$134
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210 22.7%
Pecs
$260 19.2% ↑ 23.4%$49
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163 17.7%
Pecs
$210 15.6% ↑ 28.6%$47
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$95 10.2%
Pecs
$162 12% ↑ 70.8%$67
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Pecs
$171 12.6% ↑ 93.1%$82
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44 4.7%
Pecs
$64 4.7% ↑ 46.1%$20
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$15 1.7%
Pecs
$40 3% ↑ 161%$25
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$619 32.4%
Pecs
$676 24.5% ↑ 9.2%$57
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$493 25.8%
Pecs
$616 22.3% ↑ 24.9%$123
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$178 9.3%
Pecs
$230 8.4% ↑ 29.5%$53
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$210 11%
Pecs
$359 13% ↑ 70.8%$149
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$288 15.1%
Pecs
$648 23.5% ↑ 125%$359
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$94 4.9%
Pecs
$146 5.3% ↑ 56.1%$52
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$31 1.6%
Pecs
$83 3% ↑ 166%$52
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $506 in Cebu and $619 in Pecs. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pecs pays 210% 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 $60.0 in Pecs for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $260 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 Pecs: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pecs cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Pecs?
On paper, salaries run 210% lower in Pecs. 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 Pecs?
Rent for a central apartment: $506 in Cebu versus $619 in Pecs. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Pecs?
All in, you'll spend $934 per month in Cebu versus $1,338 in Pecs – a 43% 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 86% less than in Pecs. 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 Pecs?
At $934 in Cebu versus $1,338 in Pecs, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Pecs. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Pecs more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Pecs, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Pecs?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Pecs 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 43% less than in Pecs. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.