For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $972 in Sivas, rent and utilities included – about $650 less a year. The total is higher in Sivas despite lower rent and utilities.
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 Sivas actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $972 in Sivas.
Cebu $918
Sivas $972
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $1,456 in Sivas.
Cebu $1,409
Sivas $1,456
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $1,939 in Sivas.
Cebu $1,900
Sivas $1,939
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 6% less than in Sivas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu32% lower, Sivas28% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Sivas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09₱194
$10.24₺507
-69.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22₱1,525
$60.9₺3,016
-60.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.92₱247
$10.58₺524
-62.95%
Cappuccino
$2.51₱158
$4.13₺205
-39.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59₱100
$0.82₺40.64
93.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53₱33.43
$0.31₺15.38
70.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78₱112
$1.79₺88.8
-0.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱137
$2.06₺102
5.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Sivas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92₱121
$0.98₺48.34
95.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36₱85.4
$0.77₺38.24
76.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01₱63.5
$2.51₺124
-59.76%
Eggs
$2.03₱128
$2.44₺121
-16.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.86₱621
$8.32₺412
18.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.39₱277
$2.80₺139
56.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60₱479
$20.22₺1,001
-62.41%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30₱208
$2.00₺99.1
65.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39₱87.8
$1.65₺81.6
-15.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33₱147
$0.83₺41.23
180.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50₱94.3
$1.03₺51.2
45.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36₱149
$0.42₺20.90
461.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90₱119
$0.29₺14.52
555.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₱74.9
$0.75₺36.91
58.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63₱39.71
$0.67₺32.93
-5.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00₱189
$2.19₺108
36.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.03₱379
$9.05₺448
-33.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23₱77.7
$1.60₺79.1
-23.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75₱110
$2.30₺114
-23.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Sivas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.86
$0.50₺24.62
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.64₱796
$15.33₺759
-17.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77₱48.62
$1.98₺98.2
-61.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱14.53
$0.60₺29.66
-61.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.46₱281
$6.65₺329
-32.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31₱82.8
$1.34₺66.5
-2.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K₱1.3M
$41.4K₺2.0M
-48.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K₱1.2M
$39.8K₺2.0M
-51.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Sivas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120₱7,569
$89.3₺4,420
34.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00₱882
$12.44₺616
12.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54₱1,734
$12.73₺630
116.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Sivas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.33₱2,035
$30.24₺1,497
6.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65₱419
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.65₱356
$4.16₺206
35.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Sivas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$275₱17.3K
$253₺12.5K
8.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,918₱498.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Sivas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33₱3,106
$30.61₺1,515
61.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24₱1,589
$61.5₺3,046
-58.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0₱4,846
$81.1₺4,013
-5.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2₱3,601
$60.2₺2,980
-4.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Sivas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500₱31.5K
$457₺22.6K
9.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₱19.4K
$302₺15.0K
2.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,078₱67.9K
$513₺25.4K
110.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$615₱38.7K
$300₺14.8K
105.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,886₱181.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,917₱120.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Sivas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$346₱21.8K
$896₺44.4K
-61.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
36
-80.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026
Last update for Sivas: October 13, 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 33.6%
Sivas
$302 31.1% ↓ 2.1%$6.4
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206 22.4%
Sivas
$209 21.5% ↑ 1.4%$2.9
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162 17.6%
Sivas
$114 11.8% ↓ 29.2%$47
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94 10.2%
Sivas
$105 10.8% ↑ 11.8%$11
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Sivas
$181 18.6% ↑ 105%$93
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44 4.8%
Sivas
$39 4% ↓ 11.6%$5.1
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$16 1.7%
Sivas
$22 2.3% ↑ 43.2%$6.7
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$615 32.4%
Sivas
$300 15.5% ↓ 51.3%$316
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$483 25.4%
Sivas
$486 25.1% ↑ 0.6%$3
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$176 9.3%
Sivas
$127 6.6% ↓ 27.8%$49
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$209 11%
Sivas
$233 12% ↑ 11.8%$25
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$292 15.4%
Sivas
$670 34.6% ↑ 130%$378
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$94 4.9%
Sivas
$77 * 4% ↓ 17.9%$17
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$32 1.7%
Sivas
$46 2.4% ↑ 44.1%$14
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 $500 in Cebu and $457 in Sivas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sivas pays 159% 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 $61.0 in Sivas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $209 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 Sivas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sivas cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Sivas?
On paper, salaries run 159% lower in Sivas. 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 Sivas?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $457 in Sivas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Sivas?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $972 in Sivas – a 6% 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 21% less than in Sivas. 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 Sivas?
At $918 in Cebu versus $972 in Sivas, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Sivas. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Sivas more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sivas, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Sivas?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Sivas 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 6% less than in Sivas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.