Measurement units Temperature, distance and clock format
Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Salalah
For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $1,059 in Salalah, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. The total is higher in Salalah despite lower rent and utilities.
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 Salalah actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $934 in Cebu versus $1,059 in Salalah.
Cebu $934
Salalah $1,059
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,415 in Cebu versus $1,599 in Salalah.
Cebu $1,415
Salalah $1,599
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,896 in Cebu versus $2,138 in Salalah.
Cebu $1,896
Salalah $2,138
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 12% less than in Salalah, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu30% lower, Salalah21% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Salalah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03₱190
$5.31OMR 2.05
-42.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48₱1,473
$26.43OMR 10.17
-11.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.09₱256
$12.97OMR 4.99
-68.47%
Cappuccino
$2.52₱158
$6.09OMR 2.34
-58.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54₱96.9
$0.90OMR 0.35
71.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49₱30.98
$0.25OMR 0.10
96.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79₱112
$9.33OMR 3.59
-80.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26₱142
$10.30OMR 3.96
-78.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Salalah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95₱122
$1.93OMR 0.74
1.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43₱89.7
$1.23OMR 0.47
16.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02₱63.8
$2.66OMR 1.03
-61.65%
Eggs
$2.06₱129
$1.82OMR 0.70
13.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81₱615
$4.58OMR 1.76
114.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.61₱289
$4.62OMR 1.78
-0.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.70₱483
$6.61OMR 2.55
16.49%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31₱207
$1.91OMR 0.74
73.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45₱90.9
$1.87OMR 0.72
-22.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.36₱148
$2.12OMR 0.82
11.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54₱96.4
$1.87OMR 0.72
-17.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36₱148
$1.52OMR 0.59
55.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99₱125
$1.03OMR 0.40
93.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15₱72.1
$1.04OMR 0.40
10.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67₱42.15
$0.48OMR 0.18
39.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00₱188
$5.84OMR 2.25
-48.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.35₱398
$19.73OMR 7.60
-67.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31₱81.9
$3.81OMR 1.47
-65.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73₱108
$4.76OMR 1.83
-63.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Salalah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.78
$1.32OMR 0.51
-81.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.65₱793
$55.3OMR 21.27
-77.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74₱46.32
$2.31OMR 0.89
-67.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.21₱13.11
$1.32OMR 0.51
-84.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.33₱271
$11.49OMR 4.42
-62.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₱83.5
$0.61OMR 0.23
118.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K₱1.4M
$20.8KOMR 8,004
4.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K₱1.2M
$18.3KOMR 7,048
5.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Salalah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121₱7,563
$78.1OMR 30.07
54.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.45₱907
$49.55OMR 19.08
-70.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.29₱1,774
$74.3OMR 28.59
-61.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Salalah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.68₱2,050
$39.58OMR 15.24
-17.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.39₱401
$26.22OMR 10.10
-75.63%
Cinema Ticket
$5.46₱342
$7.81OMR 3.01
-30.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Salalah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$273₱17.1K
$106OMR 40.78
158.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,156₱511.5K
$1,942OMR 747
320.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Salalah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.57₱3,109
$28.74OMR 11.06
72.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.87₱1,560
$30.76OMR 11.84
-19.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.6₱4,804
$57.8OMR 22.23
32.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3₱3,717
$46.20OMR 17.79
28.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Salalah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$506₱31.7K
$251OMR 96.5
101.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₱19.4K
$205OMR 79.0
50.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,052₱66.0K
$642OMR 247
63.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$619₱38.8K
$382OMR 147
61.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,915₱182.9K
$1,981OMR 763
47.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,867₱117.1K
$1,240OMR 477
50.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Salalah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$341₱21.4K
$1,771OMR 682
-80.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
4.58
57.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026
Last update for Salalah: October 6, 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%
Salalah
$205 19.3% ↓ 33.7%$104
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210 22.7%
Salalah
$229 21.6% ↑ 9%$19
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163 17.7%
Salalah
$202 19% ↑ 23.6%$39
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$95 10.2%
Salalah
$74 6.9% ↓ 22.3%$21
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Salalah
$226 21.3% ↑ 156%$138
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44 4.7%
Salalah
$55 5.2% ↑ 26.6%$12
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$15 1.7%
Salalah
$69 6.6% ↑ 350%$54
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$619 32.4%
Salalah
$382 18% ↓ 38.2%$237
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$493 25.8%
Salalah
$491 23.1% ↓ 0.3%$1.7
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$178 9.3%
Salalah
$251 11.8% ↑ 41.5%$74
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$210 11%
Salalah
$163 7.7% ↓ 22.3%$47
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$288 15.1%
Salalah
$561 26.4% ↑ 94.6%$273
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$94 4.9%
Salalah
$137 6.4% ↑ 46%$43
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$31 1.6%
Salalah
$142 6.7% ↑ 351%$110
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $506 in Cebu and $251 in Salalah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Salalah pays 419% 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 $26.00 in Salalah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $229 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 Salalah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salalah cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Salalah?
On paper, salaries run 419% lower in Salalah. 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 Salalah?
Rent for a central apartment: $506 in Cebu versus $251 in Salalah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Salalah?
All in, you'll spend $934 per month in Cebu versus $1,059 in Salalah – a 13% 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 337% less than in Salalah. 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 Salalah?
At $934 in Cebu versus $1,059 in Salalah, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Salalah. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Salalah more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Salalah, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Salalah?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Salalah 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 13% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.