Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Shahrekord

For one person, living is cheaper in Shahrekord: $529 a month against $934 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $4,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Cebu, Philippines
Shahrekord, Iran
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Shahrekord
🇮🇷 Iran
$529
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Shahrekord

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 Shahrekord actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $934 in Cebu versus $529 in Shahrekord.

  • Cebu $934
  • Shahrekord $529

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,423 in Cebu versus $830 in Shahrekord.

  • Cebu $1,423
  • Shahrekord $830

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,913 in Cebu versus $1,130 in Shahrekord.

  • Cebu $1,913
  • Shahrekord $1,130

Living in Cebu is roughly 76% more expensive than in Shahrekord, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 31% lower, Shahrekord 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Shahrekord
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.79 ₱242
$2.56 $2.56
48.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.33 ₱1,489
$15.92 $15.92
46.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.94 ₱252
$4.19 $4.19
-5.97%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.66 $0.66
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.15 $1.15
-
Cappuccino
$2.54 ₱162
$0.67 $0.67
279.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ₱100
$0.47 $0.47
234.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₱29.78
$1.00 $1.00
-53.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.77 ₱113
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 ₱142
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Shahrekord
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 ₱121
$0.70 $0.70
171.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱87.0
$0.53 $0.53
156.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.94 ₱59.8
$1.98 $1.98
-52.53%
Eggs
$1.99 ₱127
$1.15 $1.15
73.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.70 ₱619
$4.38 $4.38
121.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 ₱276
$3.63 $3.63
19.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.51 ₱479
$8.87 $8.87
-15.33%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 ₱211
$0.97 $0.97
241.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 ₱87.4
$1.62 $1.62
-15.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 ₱149
$0.87 $0.87
168.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 ₱95.2
$0.61 $0.61
144.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.30 ₱147
$0.54 $0.54
325.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 ₱120
$0.50 $0.50
274.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₱70.3
$0.54 $0.54
103.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱40.31
$0.29 $0.29
117.24%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.84 $0.84
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.55 $0.55
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.55 $1.55
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.86 ₱182
$2.87 $2.87
-0.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.08 ₱388
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 ₱81.3
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₱110
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Shahrekord
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 ₱13.97
$0.15 $0.15
46.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.34 ₱787
$10.12 $10.12
21.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱47.47
$0.38 $0.38
94.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱14.07
$0.28 $0.28
-21.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.28 ₱273
$2.94 $2.94
45.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱83.6
$0.10 $0.10
1210.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K ₱1.3M
$45.5K $45.5K
-54.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K ₱1.2M
$45.2K $45.2K
-57.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Shahrekord
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$118 ₱7,555
$11.69 $11.69
912.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.76 ₱1,006
$1.58 $1.58
897.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.33 ₱1,807
$4.13 $4.13
585.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Shahrekord
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.94 ₱2,102
$18.28 $18.28
80.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.49 ₱414
$13.10 $13.10
-50.46%
Cinema Ticket
$5.45 ₱348
$1.92 $1.92
183.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Shahrekord
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$276 ₱17.6K
$92.9 $92.9
196.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,789 ₱497.0K
$2,147 $2,147
262.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Shahrekord
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.18 ₱3,074
$23.07 $23.07
108.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.47 ₱1,562
$28.39 $28.39
-13.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.3 ₱4,804
$108 $108
-30.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.0 ₱3,702
$73.8 $73.8
-21.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Shahrekord
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 ₱30.5K
$295 $295
61.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$322 ₱20.5K
$214 $214
50.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 ₱61.5K
$892 $892
7.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$626 ₱39.9K
$349 $349
79.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,551 ₱290.4K
$903 $903
403.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,028 ₱193.2K
$495 $495
512.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Shahrekord
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$333 ₱21.3K
$200 $200
66.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
24.3
-70.37%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 26, 2026

Last update for Shahrekord: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$322
Shahrekord
$214 33.6% $108
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$204
Shahrekord
$112 45% $92
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163
Shahrekord
$17 89.3% $145
Eating Out
Cebu
$94
Shahrekord
$47 50.2% $47
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$93
Shahrekord
$105 13.2% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Shahrekord
$22 49.6% $22
Getting Around
Cebu
$15
Shahrekord
$13 16.9% $2.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Cebu and $295 in Shahrekord. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 66% 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 in Cebu vs $16 in Shahrekord for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $112 per month, with Shahrekord cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇮🇷 Shahrekord
🕒 Local time
06:24 6:24 AM
01:54 1:54 AM
4 h 30 min behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
129,153
💱 Currency
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 63.81 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.11 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.897 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Shahrekord 7,810 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Shahrekord

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 Shahrekord: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shahrekord cheaper than Cebu?
Shahrekord is about 43% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Shahrekord?
Average pay runs 66% 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 Shahrekord?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Cebu versus $295 in Shahrekord. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Shahrekord?
All in, you’ll spend $934 per month in Cebu versus $529 in Shahrekord – Shahrekord is about 43% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Shahrekord runs roughly 18% less than in Cebu. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Is it better to live in Cebu or in Shahrekord?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Shahrekord?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Shahrekord are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Shahrekord gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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