For one person, living is cheaper in Sfax: $620 a month against $934 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 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 Sfax actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $934 in Cebu versus $620 in Sfax.
Cebu $934
Sfax $620
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,415 in Cebu versus $975 in Sfax.
Cebu $1,415
Sfax $975
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,896 in Cebu versus $1,329 in Sfax.
Cebu $1,896
Sfax $1,329
🌍
Living in Cebu is roughly 51% more expensive than in Sfax, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu30% lower, Sfax54% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Sfax
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03₱190
$3.43TND 10.25
-11.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48₱1,473
$19.82TND 59.2
18.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.09₱256
$5.03TND 15.04
-18.69%
Cappuccino
$2.52₱158
$0.71TND 2.11
254.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54₱96.9
$0.58TND 1.73
165.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49₱30.98
$0.27TND 0.82
81.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79₱112
$1.56TND 4.67
14.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26₱142
$2.02TND 6.04
11.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Sfax
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95₱122
$0.50TND 1.50
290.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43₱89.7
$0.24TND 0.72
495.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02₱63.8
$1.38TND 4.12
-26.09%
Eggs
$2.06₱129
$1.56TND 4.65
32.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81₱615
$12.32TND 36.81
-20.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.61₱289
$5.76TND 17.20
-19.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.70₱483
$13.97TND 41.75
-44.88%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31₱207
$1.77TND 5.29
87.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45₱90.9
$3.08TND 9.20
-52.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.36₱148
$1.04TND 3.11
126.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54₱96.4
$0.68TND 2.05
126.47%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36₱148
$0.81TND 2.42
191.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99₱125
$0.77TND 2.30
158.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15₱72.1
$0.58TND 1.72
98.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67₱42.15
$0.35TND 1.03
91.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00₱188
$3.87TND 11.55
-22.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.35₱398
$6.51TND 19.44
-2.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31₱81.9
$1.19TND 3.57
10.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73₱108
$1.04TND 3.10
66.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Sfax
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.78
$0.18TND 0.55
38.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.65₱793
$9.98TND 29.81
26.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74₱46.32
$0.33TND 1.00
124.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.21₱13.11
$0.34TND 1.03
-38.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.33₱271
$7.56TND 22.59
-42.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₱83.5
$0.83TND 2.48
60.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K₱1.4M
$36.5KTND 109.2K
-40.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K₱1.2M
$34.9KTND 104.3K
-44.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Sfax
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121₱7,563
$44.47TND 133
171.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.45₱907
$9.43TND 28.18
53.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.29₱1,774
$14.85TND 44.37
90.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Sfax
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.68₱2,050
$27.37TND 81.8
19.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.39₱401
$7.32TND 21.88
-12.70%
Cinema Ticket
$5.46₱342
$4.46TND 13.31
22.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Sfax
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$273₱17.1K
$98.6TND 295
177.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,156₱511.5K
$2,470TND 7,379
230.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Sfax
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.57₱3,109
$42.94TND 128
15.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.87₱1,560
$36.43TND 109
-31.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.6₱4,804
$114TND 340
-32.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3₱3,717
$66.2TND 198
-10.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Sfax
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$506₱31.7K
$194TND 580
160.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₱19.4K
$135TND 405
128.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,052₱66.0K
$340TND 1,014
209.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$619₱38.8K
$217TND 650
184.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,915₱182.9K
$1,020TND 3,047
185.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,867₱117.1K
$745TND 2,227
150.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Sfax
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$341₱21.4K
$327TND 977
4.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
13.6
-47.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026
Last update for Sfax: October 4, 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%
Sfax
$135 21.5% ↓ 56.2%$174
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210 22.7%
Sfax
$193 30.7% ↓ 8.2%$17
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163 17.7%
Sfax
$69 10.9% ↓ 57.9%$95
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$95 10.2%
Sfax
$117 18.6% ↑ 23.4%$22
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Sfax
$66 10.5% ↓ 25%$22
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44 4.7%
Sfax
$36 5.8% ↓ 16.8%$7.3
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$15 1.7%
Sfax
$13 2% ↓ 17.3%$2.7
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$619 32.4%
Sfax
$217 16.1% ↓ 64.9%$402
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$493 25.8%
Sfax
$458 34% ↓ 7.1%$35
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$178 9.3%
Sfax
$78 5.8% ↓ 56%$100
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$210 11%
Sfax
$259 19.3% ↑ 23.4%$49
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$288 15.1%
Sfax
$229 17% ↓ 20.7%$60
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$94 4.9%
Sfax
$80 5.9% ↓ 14.6%$14
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$31 1.6%
Sfax
$26 1.9% ↓ 17.5%$5.5
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $506 in Cebu and $194 in Sfax. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cebu pays 4% 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 $20.00 in Sfax for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $193 per month, with Sfax 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 Sfax: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sfax cheaper than Cebu?
Sfax is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Sfax?
Average pay runs 4% 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 Sfax?
Rent for a central apartment: $506 in Cebu versus $194 in Sfax. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Sfax?
All in, you'll spend $934 per month in Cebu versus $620 in Sfax – a 51% 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 Sfax runs roughly 27% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,200 enough for either Cebu or Sfax?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Sfax gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Cebu or Sfax more family-friendly?
For families, Sfax 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 Sfax?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Sfax 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 Sfax gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.