Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Phetchabun

For one person, living costs are similar in Cebu and in Phetchabun: $918 and $892 a month, rent and utilities included.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Phetchabun
🇹🇭 Thailand
$892
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Phetchabun

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $892 in Phetchabun.

  • Cebu $918
  • Phetchabun $892

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $1,464 in Phetchabun.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Phetchabun $1,464

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $2,037 in Phetchabun.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Phetchabun $2,037

Living in Cebu is roughly 3% more expensive than in Phetchabun, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Phetchabun 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Phetchabun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱195
$1.73 ฿57.8
78.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$22.07 ฿738
9.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$6.50 ฿217
-39.69%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$1.17 ฿39.17
114.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$0.69 ฿23.12
130.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.45
$0.21 ฿7.01
152.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$2.04 ฿68.1
-12.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$3.03 ฿101
-28.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Phetchabun
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$1.72 ฿57.4
11.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.5
$1.38 ฿46.18
-1.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.6
$1.33 ฿44.48
-24.06%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$2.17 ฿72.7
-6.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$16.43 ฿549
-39.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$2.72 ฿90.9
61.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$10.00 ฿334
-24.00%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$3.01 ฿101
9.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$1.05 ฿35.03
32.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$2.23 ฿74.5
4.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$1.80 ฿60.2
-16.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$1.42 ฿47.30
66.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$1.12 ฿37.27
69.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$1.12 ฿37.50
6.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.73
$0.52 ฿17.26
21.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$4.30 ฿144
-30.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱380
$17.26 ฿577
-65.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$1.67 ฿55.8
-26.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$2.80 ฿93.5
-37.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Phetchabun
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.87
$0.87 ฿29.12
-71.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.64
$1.28 ฿42.79
-39.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.54
$1.12 ฿37.52
-79.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$4.83 ฿161
-7.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$1.40 ฿46.79
-6.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$26.0K ฿869.8K
-18.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$26.5K ฿885.3K
-27.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Phetchabun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,573
$82.1 ฿2,742
46.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$11.66 ฿390
20.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,735
$19.16 ฿640
43.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Phetchabun
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,036
$46.35 ฿1,549
-30.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
$13.92 ฿465
-52.23%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$6.61 ฿221
-14.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Phetchabun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$574 ฿19.2K
-52.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.8K
$10.7K ฿358.7K
-26.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Phetchabun
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,107
$50.5 ฿1,686
-2.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,590
$29.63 ฿990
-14.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,848
$78.4 ฿2,618
-1.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,603
$76.5 ฿2,555
-25.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Phetchabun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$453 ฿15.1K
10.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.5K
$293 ฿9,806
5.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$1,382 ฿46.2K
-22.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.8K
$740 ฿24.7K
-16.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.8K
$1,932 ฿64.6K
49.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$1,585 ฿53.0K
20.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Phetchabun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
5.57
29.26%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Phetchabun: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Phetchabun
$293 5% $15
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Phetchabun
$243 17.9% $37
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Phetchabun
$113 30.2% $49
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Phetchabun
$106 12.5% $12
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Phetchabun
$67 23.8% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Phetchabun
$60 36.5% $16
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Phetchabun
$10 * 33.3% $5.2

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 $453 in Phetchabun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $22.00 in Phetchabun. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $243, with Cebu cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇹🇭 Phetchabun
🕒 Local time
01:58 1:58 AM
00:58 12:58 AM
1 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
23,823
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.99 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.82 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Phetchabun 2,550 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Phetchabun

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 Phetchabun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phetchabun cheaper than Cebu?
Phetchabun is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, utilities, and transport. The 3% 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 $1,338 in Phetchabun 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 Phetchabun?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $453 in Phetchabun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cebu and in Phetchabun?
Shoppers in Cebu pay roughly 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Phetchabun?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $892 in Phetchabun – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,200 enough for either Cebu or Phetchabun?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Phetchabun gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Cebu or Phetchabun more family-friendly?
For families, Phetchabun 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 Phetchabun?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Phetchabun 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 Phetchabun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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