Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Sfax

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.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Sfax
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$620
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Sfax

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: Cebu 30% lower, Sfax 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Sfax
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03 ₱190
$3.43 TND 10.25
-11.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48 ₱1,473
$19.82 TND 59.2
18.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.09 ₱256
$5.03 TND 15.04
-18.69%
Cappuccino
$2.52 ₱158
$0.71 TND 2.11
254.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₱96.9
$0.58 TND 1.73
165.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₱30.98
$0.27 TND 0.82
81.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.79 ₱112
$1.56 TND 4.67
14.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ₱142
$2.02 TND 6.04
11.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Sfax
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ₱122
$0.50 TND 1.50
290.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ₱89.7
$0.24 TND 0.72
495.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 ₱63.8
$1.38 TND 4.12
-26.09%
Eggs
$2.06 ₱129
$1.56 TND 4.65
32.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 ₱615
$12.32 TND 36.81
-20.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.61 ₱289
$5.76 TND 17.20
-19.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.70 ₱483
$13.97 TND 41.75
-44.88%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 ₱207
$1.77 TND 5.29
87.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₱90.9
$3.08 TND 9.20
-52.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$1.04 TND 3.11
126.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ₱96.4
$0.68 TND 2.05
126.47%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$0.81 TND 2.42
191.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 ₱125
$0.77 TND 2.30
158.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 ₱72.1
$0.58 TND 1.72
98.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₱42.15
$0.35 TND 1.03
91.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱188
$3.87 TND 11.55
-22.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.35 ₱398
$6.51 TND 19.44
-2.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₱81.9
$1.19 TND 3.57
10.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₱108
$1.04 TND 3.10
66.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Sfax
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.78
$0.18 TND 0.55
38.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.65 ₱793
$9.98 TND 29.81
26.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱46.32
$0.33 TND 1.00
124.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.11
$0.34 TND 1.03
-38.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.33 ₱271
$7.56 TND 22.59
-42.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₱83.5
$0.83 TND 2.48
60.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₱1.4M
$36.5K TND 109.2K
-40.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ₱1.2M
$34.9K TND 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
$44.47 TND 133
171.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.45 ₱907
$9.43 TND 28.18
53.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.29 ₱1,774
$14.85 TND 44.37
90.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Sfax
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.68 ₱2,050
$27.37 TND 81.8
19.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.39 ₱401
$7.32 TND 21.88
-12.70%
Cinema Ticket
$5.46 ₱342
$4.46 TND 13.31
22.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Sfax
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$273 ₱17.1K
$98.6 TND 295
177.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,156 ₱511.5K
$2,470 TND 7,379
230.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Sfax
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.57 ₱3,109
$42.94 TND 128
15.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.87 ₱1,560
$36.43 TND 109
-31.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 ₱4,804
$114 TND 340
-32.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3 ₱3,717
$66.2 TND 198
-10.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Sfax
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$506 ₱31.7K
$194 TND 580
160.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$135 TND 405
128.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,052 ₱66.0K
$340 TND 1,014
209.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$619 ₱38.8K
$217 TND 650
184.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,915 ₱182.9K
$1,020 TND 3,047
185.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,867 ₱117.1K
$745 TND 2,227
150.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Sfax
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$341 ₱21.4K
$327 TND 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.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Sfax
$135 56.2% $174
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210
Sfax
$193 8.2% $17
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163
Sfax
$69 57.9% $95
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$95
Sfax
$117 23.4% $22
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Sfax
$66 25% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Sfax
$36 16.8% $7.3
Getting Around
Cebu
$15
Sfax
$13 17.3% $2.7

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.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇹🇳 Sfax
🕒 Local time
16:20 4:20 PM
09:20 9:20 AM
7 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
955,421
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TND, 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 = 70.35 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 2.99 TND (1 TND = 0.335 USD). 1 EUR = 3.35 TND (1 TND = 0.298 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Sfax 11,390 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Sfax

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.

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