For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $915 a month against $1,484 in Sisak, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Other living expenses 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 Sisak actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $915 in Cebu versus $1,484 in Sisak.
Cebu $915
Sisak $1,484
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,418 in Cebu versus $2,292 in Sisak.
Cebu $1,418
Sisak $2,292
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,921 in Cebu versus $3,101 in Sisak.
Cebu $1,921
Sisak $3,101
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 38% less than in Sisak, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 33% below, Sisak is 10% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Sisak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.05₱192
$14.54€12.93
-79.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.00₱1,511
$68.1€60.6
-64.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.99₱251
$9.02€8.02
-55.76%
Cappuccino
$2.50₱157
$2.47€2.20
1.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54₱97.1
$2.99€2.66
-48.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50₱31.37
$2.11€1.87
-76.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78₱112
$3.32€2.96
-46.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱136
$4.56€4.06
-52.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Sisak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00₱126
$1.11€0.98
80.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.37₱86.2
$1.10€0.98
24.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03₱64.9
$2.23€1.98
-53.81%
Eggs
$2.03₱128
$3.94€3.50
-48.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20₱642
$11.02€9.80
-7.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.45₱280
$10.78€9.59
-58.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.67₱483
$19.01€16.91
-59.65%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31₱208
$1.93€1.72
71.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46₱91.8
$1.89€1.68
-22.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32₱146
$2.22€1.97
4.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49₱94.0
$2.62€2.33
-43.13%
Potato(1kg)
$2.34₱147
$1.38€1.23
69.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94₱122
$1.34€1.19
44.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16₱73.0
$1.29€1.14
-10.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68₱42.89
$1.26€1.12
-46.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99₱188
$5.46€4.86
-45.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.24₱393
$8.06€7.17
-22.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23₱77.3
$1.86€1.66
-33.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73₱109
$2.49€2.21
-30.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Sisak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23₱14.36
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.34₱777
$136€121
-90.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79₱49.96
$3.37€3.00
-76.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₱13.86
$2.27€2.02
-90.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.54₱286
$21.77€19.37
-79.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32₱82.9
$1.80€1.60
-26.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K₱1.3M
$26.2K€23.3K
-19.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K₱1.2M
$26.2K€23.3K
-25.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Sisak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$119₱7,464
$152€135
-21.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.22₱896
$22.42€19.94
-36.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.47₱1,730
$40.04€35.61
-31.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Sisak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.31₱2,034
$34.26€30.48
-5.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.50₱409
$15.61€13.88
-58.36%
Cinema Ticket
$5.40₱340
$10.87€9.67
-50.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Sisak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$276₱17.4K
$245€218
12.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,866₱495.3K
$2,808€2,498
180.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Sisak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.37₱3,108
$99.2€88.2
-50.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.58₱1,548
$33.77€30.03
-27.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.6₱4,825
$90.4€80.4
-15.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.9₱3,706
$113€101
-48.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Sisak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$503₱31.7K
$498€443
1.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305₱19.2K
$401€357
-24.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,075₱67.7K
$790€703
36.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632₱39.8K
$633€563
-0.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,870₱180.7K
$2,577€2,292
11.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,877₱118.2K
$1,812€1,612
3.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Sisak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$336₱21.1K
$1,082€962
-68.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
3.54
103.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 19, 2026
Last update for Sisak: October 19, 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
$305 33.3%
Sisak
$401 27.1% ↑ 31.8%$97
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210 22.9%
Sisak
$291 19.6% ↑ 38.9%$82
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$160 17.5%
Sisak
$214 14.4% ↑ 33.8%$54
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94 10.3%
Sisak
$152 10.2% ↑ 60.8%$57
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Sisak
$219 14.8% ↑ 150%$131
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$43 4.7%
Sisak
$56 3.8% ↑ 29.9%$13
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$15 1.7%
Sisak
$150 * 10.1% ↑ 893%$135
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$632 32.9%
Sisak
$633 20.4% ↑ 0.2%$1.4
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$491 25.6%
Sisak
$683 22% ↑ 39.1%$192
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$174 9.1%
Sisak
$237 7.6% ↑ 35.7%$62
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$209 10.9%
Sisak
$337 10.9% ↑ 60.8%$127
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$290 15.1%
Sisak
$782 25.2% ↑ 170%$492
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$93 4.8%
Sisak
$128 4.1% ↑ 37.7%$35
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$31 1.6%
Sisak
$301 * 9.7% ↑ 879%$270
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $503 in Cebu and $498 in Sisak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sisak pays 222% 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 $68.0 in Sisak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $291 per month, with Cebu 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 Sisak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sisak cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Sisak?
On paper, salaries run 222% lower in Sisak. 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 Sisak?
Rent for a central apartment: $503 in Cebu versus $498 in Sisak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Sisak?
All in, you'll spend $915 per month in Cebu versus $1,484 in Sisak – a 62% 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 1000% less than in Sisak. 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 Sisak?
At $915 in Cebu versus $1,484 in Sisak, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Sisak. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Sisak more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sisak, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Sisak?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Sisak 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 62% less than in Sisak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.