Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Permet

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,185 in Permet, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. The total is higher in Permet despite lower rent and utilities.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Permet
🇦🇱 Albania
$1,185
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Permet

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $1,185 in Permet.

  • Cebu $918
  • Permet $1,185

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $1,810 in Permet.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Permet $1,810

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $2,435 in Permet.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Permet $2,435

Living in Cebu costs roughly 23% less than in Permet, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Permet 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Permet
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$9.62 ALL 786
-67.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,519
$54.7 ALL 4,469
-55.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱246
$11.15 ALL 912
-64.84%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱157
$2.28 ALL 186
10.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱99.8
$2.41 ALL 197
-34.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.31
$1.23 ALL 100
-56.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$3.51 ALL 287
-49.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱136
$4.00 ALL 327
-45.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Permet
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱120
$2.27 ALL 186
-15.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.1
$1.19 ALL 97.5
14.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.3
$2.39 ALL 196
-57.74%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱127
$3.73 ALL 305
-45.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱619
$12.88 ALL 1,053
-23.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱276
$9.02 ALL 737
-51.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱477
$16.90 ALL 1,382
-55.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱207
$1.97 ALL 161
67.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.4
$2.46 ALL 201
-43.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱146
$2.13 ALL 174
9.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱93.9
$1.87 ALL 153
-19.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$1.05 ALL 85.7
124.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$1.28 ALL 105
48.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.6
$1.50 ALL 122
-20.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.56
$0.75 ALL 61.1
-16.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱188
$4.80 ALL 393
-37.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱378
$10.50 ALL 858
-42.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.4
$1.60 ALL 131
-23.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$2.02 ALL 165
-13.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Permet
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.80
$0.48 ALL 39.26
-47.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱793
$21.52 ALL 1,760
-41.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.43
$3.64 ALL 298
-78.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.48
$3.71 ALL 303
-93.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱279
$18.55 ALL 1,517
-75.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.5
$2.37 ALL 194
-44.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$33.5K ALL 2.7M
-36.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$35.8K ALL 2.9M
-46.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Permet
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,541
$98.8 ALL 8,078
21.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱878
$18.56 ALL 1,517
-24.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,727
$19.43 ALL 1,588
41.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Permet
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,028
$59.6 ALL 4,869
-45.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱417
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱354
$10.06 ALL 822
-43.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Permet
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$344 ALL 28.1K
-20.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱496.6K
$8,313 ALL 679.7K
-4.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Permet
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,094
$49.54 ALL 4,051
-0.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,583
$47.61 ALL 3,893
-46.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,827
$119 ALL 9,740
-35.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,587
$113 ALL 9,204
-49.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Permet
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.3K
$514 ALL 42.1K
-2.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$307 ALL 25.1K
0.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.6K
$766 ALL 62.7K
40.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.6K
$397 ALL 32.4K
55.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.0K
$1,885 ALL 154.1K
53.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.2K
$1,359 ALL 111.2K
40.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Permet
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
5.39
33.58%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Permet: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Permet
$307 0.7% $2.1
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Permet
$290 40.8% $84
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Permet
$137 15.4% $25
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Permet
$148 57.6% $54
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Permet
$178 102% $90
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Permet
$80 82.7% $36
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Permet
$46 193% $30

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $514 in Permet. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $55.0 in Permet for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $290 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇦🇱 Permet
🕒 Local time
20:54 8:54 PM
14:54 2:54 PM
6 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
10,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ALL, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.02 PHP (100 PHP = 1.43 EUR).

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 81.76 ALL (100 ALL = 1.22 USD). 1 EUR = 91.27 ALL (100 ALL = 1.1 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Permet 10,390 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Permet

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 Permet: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Permet cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 29% 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 $1,777 in Permet 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 Permet?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $514 in Permet. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Permet?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $1,185 in Permet – a 29% 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 70% less than in Permet. 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 Permet?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,185 in Permet, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Permet. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Permet more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Permet, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Permet?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Permet 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 29% less than in Permet. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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