Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Sion

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $3,235 in Sion, rent and utilities included – about $27,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Sion
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,235
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Sion

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $3,235 in Sion.

  • Cebu $918
  • Sion $3,235

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $4,857 in Sion.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Sion $4,857

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $6,479 in Sion.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Sion $6,479

Living in Cebu costs roughly 72% less than in Sion, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 32% below, Sion is 140% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Sion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$28.97 CHF 23.86
-89.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$89.6 CHF 73.8
-72.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$19.15 CHF 15.77
-79.53%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$4.60 CHF 3.79
-45.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$5.09 CHF 4.19
-68.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$4.28 CHF 3.52
-87.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$7.36 CHF 6.06
-75.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$7.29 CHF 6.00
-70.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Sion
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$1.94 CHF 1.60
-1.03%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$3.54 CHF 2.92
-61.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$4.19 CHF 3.45
-75.89%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$7.13 CHF 5.87
-71.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$26.01 CHF 21.42
-62.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$22.69 CHF 18.69
-80.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$40.09 CHF 33.02
-81.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$3.15 CHF 2.59
4.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$1.70 CHF 1.40
-18.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$2.53 CHF 2.09
-7.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$6.20 CHF 5.11
-75.81%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$1.85 CHF 1.53
27.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$2.16 CHF 1.78
-12.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$2.43 CHF 2.00
-51.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$1.17 CHF 0.97
-46.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$10.85 CHF 8.94
-72.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
$14.25 CHF 11.74
-57.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$1.76 CHF 1.45
-30.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$1.91 CHF 1.57
-8.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Sion
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
$5.24 CHF 4.32
-95.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
$179 CHF 148
-92.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$5.94 CHF 4.89
-87.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$5.29 CHF 4.36
-95.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$48.12 CHF 39.63
-90.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$2.21 CHF 1.82
-40.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$34.2K CHF 28.2K
-37.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$37.6K CHF 31.0K
-49.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Sion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$308 CHF 254
-60.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$24.86 CHF 20.48
-43.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$49.64 CHF 40.89
-44.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Sion
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$135 CHF 111
-76.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
$54.5 CHF 44.88
-87.80%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$20.28 CHF 16.70
-72.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Sion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$953 CHF 785
-71.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$37.7K CHF 31.1K
-79.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Sion
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$109 CHF 89.7
-54.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$48.21 CHF 39.71
-47.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$161 CHF 133
-52.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$165 CHF 136
-65.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Sion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$1,221 CHF 1,005
-59.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$1,240 CHF 1,021
-75.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$2,323 CHF 1,913
-53.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
$2,072 CHF 1,707
-70.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
$7,339 CHF 6,045
-60.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$5,532 CHF 4,556
-65.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Sion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
$5,826 CHF 4,798
-94.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
2.15
234.88%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Sion: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Sion
$1.2K 302% $931
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Sion
$554 169% $348
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Sion
$383 137% $221
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Sion
$217 131% $123
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Sion
$433 391% $345
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Sion
$175 302% $132
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Sion
$233 1395% $217

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $1,221 in Sion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sion pays 1584% 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: $24.00 in Cebu vs $90.0 in Sion for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $554 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇨🇭 Sion
🕒 Local time
13:32 1:32 PM
07:32 7:32 AM
6 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
34,599
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, 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).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Sion 11,130 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Sion

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 Sion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sion cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 252% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Sion?
On paper, salaries run 1584% lower in Sion. 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 Sion?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $1,221 in Sion. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Sion?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $3,235 in Sion – a 252% 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 1320% less than in Sion. 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 Sion?
At $918 in Cebu versus $3,235 in Sion, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Sion. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Sion more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sion, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Sion?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Sion 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 252% less than in Sion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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