Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Saint-Louis

For one person, living is cheaper in Saint-Louis: $830 a month against $934 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Cebu outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Saint-Louis
🇸🇳 Senegal
$830
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Saint-Louis

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 Saint-Louis actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $934 in Cebu versus $830 in Saint-Louis.

  • Cebu $934
  • Saint-Louis $830

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,415 in Cebu versus $1,322 in Saint-Louis.

  • Cebu $1,415
  • Saint-Louis $1,322

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,896 in Cebu versus $1,815 in Saint-Louis.

  • Cebu $1,896
  • Saint-Louis $1,815

Living in Cebu is roughly 13% more expensive than in Saint-Louis, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 30% lower, Saint-Louis 38% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Saint-Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03 ₱190
$3.50 F CFA 2,047
-13.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48 ₱1,473
$52.7 F CFA 30.8K
-55.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.09 ₱256
$11.15 F CFA 6,522
-63.32%
Cappuccino
$2.52 ₱158
$3.35 F CFA 1,963
-24.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₱96.9
$1.25 F CFA 729
23.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₱30.98
$0.87 F CFA 509
-43.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.79 ₱112
$1.75 F CFA 1,026
2.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ₱142
$4.37 F CFA 2,555
-48.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Saint-Louis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ₱122
$2.49 F CFA 1,459
-21.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ₱89.7
$0.27 F CFA 159
429.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 ₱63.8
$1.68 F CFA 981
-39.29%
Eggs
$2.06 ₱129
$2.45 F CFA 1,432
-15.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 ₱615
$17.14 F CFA 10.0K
-42.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.61 ₱289
$8.75 F CFA 5,122
-47.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.70 ₱483
$11.00 F CFA 6,438
-30.00%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 ₱207
$3.12 F CFA 1,828
6.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₱90.9
$1.95 F CFA 1,143
-25.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$2.86 F CFA 1,672
-17.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ₱96.4
$1.73 F CFA 1,011
-10.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$1.35 F CFA 788
74.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 ₱125
$0.98 F CFA 574
103.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 ₱72.1
$1.08 F CFA 630
6.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₱42.15
$0.70 F CFA 410
-4.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱188
$2.12 F CFA 1,242
41.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.35 ₱398
$16.91 F CFA 9,895
-62.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₱81.9
$1.53 F CFA 895
-14.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₱108
$3.37 F CFA 1,970
-48.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Saint-Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.78
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.65 ₱793
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱46.32
$0.89 F CFA 523
-16.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.11
$2.12 F CFA 1,243
-90.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.33 ₱271
$17.34 F CFA 10.1K
-75.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₱83.5
$1.70 F CFA 992
-21.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₱1.4M
$50.9K F CFA 29.8M
-57.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ₱1.2M
$48.6K F CFA 28.4M
-60.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Saint-Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 ₱7,563
$206 F CFA 120.8K
-41.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.45 ₱907
$11.46 F CFA 6,707
26.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.29 ₱1,774
$46.89 F CFA 27.4K
-39.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Saint-Louis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.68 ₱2,050
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.39 ₱401
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.46 ₱342
$8.64 F CFA 5,053
-36.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Saint-Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$273 ₱17.1K
$320 F CFA 187.0K
-14.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,156 ₱511.5K
$10.4K F CFA 6.1M
-21.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Saint-Louis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.57 ₱3,109
$58.8 F CFA 34.4K
-15.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.87 ₱1,560
$45.28 F CFA 26.5K
-45.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 ₱4,804
$85.6 F CFA 50.1K
-10.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3 ₱3,717
$95.0 F CFA 55.6K
-37.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Saint-Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$506 ₱31.7K
$435 F CFA 254.5K
16.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,052 ₱66.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$619 ₱38.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,915 ₱182.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,867 ₱117.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Saint-Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$341 ₱21.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
8.75
-17.71%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Last update for Saint-Louis: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Saint-Louis
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210
Saint-Louis
$287 36.3% $76
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163
Saint-Louis
$265 62.1% $101
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$95
Saint-Louis
$128 35.4% $33
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Saint-Louis
$128 44.4% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Saint-Louis
$17 * 60.4% $26
Getting Around
Cebu
$15
Saint-Louis
$12 * 25.5% $3.9

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 $506 in Cebu and $435 in Saint-Louis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Cebu vs $53.0 in Saint-Louis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $287 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇸🇳 Saint-Louis
🕒 Local time
19:46 7:46 PM
11:46 11:46 AM
8 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
176,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

XOF, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.28 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

West African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 585 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.53 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Saint-Louis 14,770 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Saint-Louis

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 Saint-Louis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saint-Louis cheaper than Cebu?
Saint-Louis is cheaper overall, especially in leisure and transport. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,401 in Cebu and $1,245 in Saint-Louis 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 Saint-Louis?
Rent for a central apartment: $506 in Cebu versus $435 in Saint-Louis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cebu and in Saint-Louis?
Shoppers in Cebu pay roughly 36% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Saint-Louis?
All in, you'll spend $934 per month in Cebu versus $830 in Saint-Louis – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Cebu or in Saint-Louis?
At $830 in Saint-Louis versus $934 in Cebu, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Saint-Louis but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Saint-Louis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Saint-Louis more family-friendly?
For families, Saint-Louis 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 Saint-Louis?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Saint-Louis 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 Saint-Louis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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