Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Setagaya-ku

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,183 in Setagaya-ku, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Setagaya-ku
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,183
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Setagaya-ku

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 Setagaya-ku actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $1,183 in Setagaya-ku.

  • Cebu $918
  • Setagaya-ku $1,183

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $1,834 in Setagaya-ku.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Setagaya-ku $1,834

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $2,484 in Setagaya-ku.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Setagaya-ku $2,484

Living in Cebu costs roughly 22% less than in Setagaya-ku, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Setagaya-ku 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$6.12 ¥968
-49.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$25.64 ¥4,050
-5.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$4.36 ¥690
-10.09%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$2.97 ¥470
-15.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$1.04 ¥165
52.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$0.65 ¥102
-18.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$2.19 ¥346
-18.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$3.22 ¥508
-32.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$1.23 ¥194
56.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$1.72 ¥272
-20.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$3.64 ¥575
-72.25%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$1.17 ¥186
73.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$10.40 ¥1,643
-5.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$6.11 ¥965
-28.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$14.25 ¥2,252
-46.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$5.59 ¥883
-40.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$2.74 ¥433
-49.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$2.95 ¥466
-21.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$4.14 ¥654
-63.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$2.62 ¥415
-9.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$2.63 ¥416
-27.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$1.24 ¥196
-4.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$0.56 ¥87.7
12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$3.79 ¥599
-20.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
$6.26 ¥989
-3.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$1.81 ¥287
-32.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$2.09 ¥330
-16.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Setagaya-ku
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
$1.46 ¥231
-82.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
$50.7 ¥8,012
-75.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$3.23 ¥510
-76.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$2.66 ¥421
-91.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$20.85 ¥3,294
-78.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$1.10 ¥174
19.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$21.2K ¥3.4M
0.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$18.6K ¥2.9M
3.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$131 ¥20.6K
-7.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$23.82 ¥3,764
-41.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$31.73 ¥5,013
-13.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$55.0 ¥8,691
-41.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$11.52 ¥1,820
-50.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$636 ¥100.5K
-56.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$14.7K ¥2.3M
-46.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$62.3 ¥9,846
-20.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$36.37 ¥5,747
-30.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$62.1 ¥9,814
23.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$102 ¥16.2K
-44.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Setagaya-ku
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$534 ¥84.4K
-6.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$325 ¥51.4K
-5.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$1,152 ¥182.0K
-6.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
$674 ¥106.4K
-8.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
$3,724 ¥588.4K
-22.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$1,635 ¥258.4K
17.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
2
260.00%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Setagaya-ku: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Setagaya-ku
$325 5.3% $16
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Setagaya-ku
$281 36.4% $75
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Setagaya-ku
$186 15.1% $24
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Setagaya-ku
$118 26% $24
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Setagaya-ku
$122 38.1% $34
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Setagaya-ku
$78 78.9% $34
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Setagaya-ku
$73 370% $58

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $534 in Setagaya-ku. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $26.00 in Setagaya-ku for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $281 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇯🇵 Setagaya-ku
🕒 Local time
09:23 9:23 AM
10:23 10:23 AM
1 h ahead of Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
943,664
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Setagaya-ku 3,240 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Setagaya-ku

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 Setagaya-ku: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Setagaya-ku 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 $1,775 in Setagaya-ku 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 Setagaya-ku?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $534 in Setagaya-ku. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Setagaya-ku?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $1,183 in Setagaya-ku – 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 301% less than in Setagaya-ku. 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 Setagaya-ku?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,183 in Setagaya-ku, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Setagaya-ku. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Setagaya-ku more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Setagaya-ku, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Setagaya-ku?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Setagaya-ku 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 Setagaya-ku. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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