For one person, living is cheaper in Rasht: $476 a month against $918 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Rent and utilities 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 Rasht actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $476 in Rasht.
Cebu $918
Rasht $476
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $737 in Rasht.
Cebu $1,409
Rasht $737
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $998 in Rasht.
Cebu $1,900
Rasht $998
🌍
Living in Cebu is roughly 93% more expensive than in Rasht, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu32% lower, Rasht65% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Rasht
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09₱195
$3.72$3.72
-16.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22₱1,525
$16.25$16.25
49.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.92₱247
$4.03$4.03
-2.73%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.73$0.73
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.98$0.98
-
Cappuccino
$2.51₱158
$1.37$1.37
83.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59₱100
$0.50$0.50
218.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53₱33.45
$1.01$1.01
-47.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78₱112
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱137
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Rasht
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92₱121
$0.55$0.55
249.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36₱85.5
$0.52$0.52
161.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01₱63.6
$1.89$1.89
-46.56%
Eggs
$2.03₱128
$1.28$1.28
58.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.86₱621
$4.43$4.43
122.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.39₱277
$2.46$2.46
78.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60₱479
$9.43$9.43
-19.41%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30₱208
$0.75$0.75
340.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39₱87.8
$1.35$1.35
2.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33₱147
$0.72$0.72
223.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50₱94.3
$0.50$0.50
200.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36₱149
$0.44$0.44
436.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90₱119
$0.51$0.51
272.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₱74.9
$0.37$0.37
221.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63₱39.73
$0.24$0.24
162.50%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.83$0.83
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.26$0.26
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.32$1.32
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00₱189
$1.62$1.62
85.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.03₱380
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23₱77.7
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75₱110
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Rasht
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.87
$0.17$0.17
47.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.64₱796
$10.81$10.81
16.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77₱48.64
$0.51$0.51
50.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱14.54
$0.21$0.21
9.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.46₱281
$1.47$1.47
203.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31₱82.8
$0.09$0.09
1355.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K₱1.3M
$49.9K$49.9K
-57.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K₱1.2M
$44.2K$44.2K
-56.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Rasht
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120₱7,573
$12.97$12.97
826.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00₱882
$1.62$1.62
764.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54₱1,735
$3.78$3.78
628.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Rasht
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.33₱2,036
$17.97$17.97
79.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65₱419
$11.83$11.83
-43.79%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65₱356
$1.02$1.02
453.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Rasht
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$275₱17.3K
$82.7$82.7
232.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,918₱498.8K
$2,607$2,607
203.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Rasht
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33₱3,107
$16.23$16.23
203.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24₱1,590
$24.73$24.73
2.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0₱4,848
$112$112
-31.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2₱3,603
$74.8$74.8
-23.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Rasht
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500₱31.5K
$210$210
137.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₱19.5K
$157$157
97.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,078₱67.9K
$389$389
176.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$615₱38.8K
$213$213
188.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,886₱181.8K
$1,226$1,226
135.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,917₱120.7K
$618$618
210.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Rasht
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$346₱21.8K
$210$210
65.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
19
-62.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026
Last update for Rasht: October 13, 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 33.6%
Rasht
$157 32.9% ↓ 49.3%$152
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206 22.4%
Rasht
$101 21.3% ↓ 50.9%$105
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162 17.6%
Rasht
$18 3.9% ↓ 88.7%$143
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94 10.2%
Rasht
$102 21.5% ↑ 8.9%$8.3
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Rasht
$64 13.5% ↓ 27.1%$24
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44 4.8%
Rasht
$20 4.2% ↓ 54.1%$24
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$16 1.7%
Rasht
$13 2.7% ↓ 16.1%$2.5
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$615 32.4%
Rasht
$213 21.3% ↓ 65.4%$402
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$483 25.4%
Rasht
$249 24.9% ↓ 48.5%$234
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$176 9.3%
Rasht
$20 2% ↓ 88.6%$156
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$209 11%
Rasht
$227 22.8% ↑ 8.9%$19
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$292 15.4%
Rasht
$210 21.1% ↓ 28%$82
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$94 4.9%
Rasht
$52 5.2% ↓ 44.8%$42
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$32 1.7%
Rasht
$26 2.7% ↓ 16.4%$5.2
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $210 in Rasht. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cebu pays 65% 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: $24.00 in Cebu vs $16.00 in Rasht for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $101 per month, with Rasht 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 Rasht: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rasht cheaper than Cebu?
Rasht is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 93% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Rasht?
Average pay runs 65% higher in Cebu, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Cebu and Rasht?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $210 in Rasht. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Rasht?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $476 in Rasht – a 93% 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 Rasht runs roughly 17% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $800 enough for either Cebu or Rasht?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Rasht gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Cebu or Rasht more family-friendly?
For families, Rasht 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 Rasht?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Rasht 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 Rasht gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.