Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Szczecin

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $1,331 in Szczecin, rent and utilities included – about $4,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Szczecin
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,331
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Szczecin

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $934 in Cebu versus $1,331 in Szczecin.

  • Cebu $934
  • Szczecin $1,331

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,415 in Cebu versus $1,974 in Szczecin.

  • Cebu $1,415
  • Szczecin $1,974

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,896 in Cebu versus $2,618 in Szczecin.

  • Cebu $1,896
  • Szczecin $2,618

Living in Cebu costs roughly 30% less than in Szczecin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 30% lower, Szczecin 1% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Szczecin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03 ₱190
$8.71 zł 34.04
-65.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48 ₱1,473
$45.79 zł 179
-48.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.09 ₱256
$8.32 zł 32.50
-50.84%
Cappuccino
$2.52 ₱158
$2.93 zł 11.44
-13.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₱96.9
$1.80 zł 7.05
-14.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₱30.98
$1.41 zł 5.52
-65.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.79 ₱112
$2.98 zł 11.64
-39.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ₱142
$3.09 zł 12.09
-26.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Szczecin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ₱122
$0.92 zł 3.61
111.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ₱89.7
$1.25 zł 4.90
14.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 ₱63.8
$1.06 zł 4.16
-3.77%
Eggs
$2.06 ₱129
$3.24 zł 12.68
-36.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 ₱615
$9.39 zł 36.70
4.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.61 ₱289
$6.25 zł 24.43
-26.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.70 ₱483
$13.00 zł 50.8
-40.77%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 ₱207
$0.96 zł 3.77
244.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₱90.9
$1.64 zł 6.39
-11.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$1.58 zł 6.19
49.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ₱96.4
$2.34 zł 9.14
-34.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱148
$0.85 zł 3.32
177.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 ₱125
$1.07 zł 4.20
85.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 ₱72.1
$1.12 zł 4.36
2.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₱42.15
$0.59 zł 2.33
13.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱188
$5.28 zł 20.64
-43.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.35 ₱398
$6.49 zł 25.38
-2.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₱81.9
$1.07 zł 4.17
22.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₱108
$1.46 zł 5.70
18.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Szczecin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.78
$0.74 zł 2.90
-66.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.65 ₱793
$25.11 zł 98.2
-49.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱46.32
$1.97 zł 7.69
-62.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.11
$0.94 zł 3.67
-77.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.33 ₱271
$12.96 zł 50.7
-66.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ₱83.5
$1.65 zł 6.44
-19.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₱1.4M
$30.2K zł 118.0K
-27.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ₱1.2M
$28.4K zł 111.2K
-31.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Szczecin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 ₱7,563
$243 zł 949
-50.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.45 ₱907
$12.39 zł 48.42
16.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.29 ₱1,774
$18.74 zł 73.3
50.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Szczecin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.68 ₱2,050
$30.15 zł 118
8.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.39 ₱401
$49.87 zł 195
-87.19%
Cinema Ticket
$5.46 ₱342
$6.42 zł 25.09
-14.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Szczecin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$273 ₱17.1K
$329 zł 1,287
-16.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,156 ₱511.5K
$7,675 zł 30.0K
6.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Szczecin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.57 ₱3,109
$69.8 zł 273
-28.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.87 ₱1,560
$35.71 zł 140
-30.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 ₱4,804
$80.3 zł 314
-4.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3 ₱3,717
$89.6 zł 350
-33.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Szczecin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$506 ₱31.7K
$616 zł 2,407
-17.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$485 zł 1,894
-36.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,052 ₱66.0K
$1,153 zł 4,506
-8.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$619 ₱38.8K
$815 zł 3,184
-24.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,915 ₱182.9K
$3,349 zł 13.1K
-12.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,867 ₱117.1K
$2,339 zł 9,142
-20.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Szczecin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$341 ₱21.4K
$1,622 zł 6,339
-78.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
6.82
5.57%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Last update for Szczecin: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Szczecin
$485 56.6% $175
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210
Szczecin
$208 1.3% $2.8
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$163
Szczecin
$274 67.7% $111
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$95
Szczecin
$124 30.9% $29
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Szczecin
$164 85.2% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Szczecin
$43 1.4% $0.6
Getting Around
Cebu
$15
Szczecin
$35 125% $19

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $506 in Cebu and $616 in Szczecin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Szczecin pays 375% 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 $46.00 in Szczecin. Groceries flip the comparison at $210 vs $208, with Szczecin cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇵🇱 Szczecin
🕒 Local time
15:24 3:24 PM
09:24 9:24 AM
6 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
387,700
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, 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).

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.91 PLN (1 PLN = 0.256 USD). 1 EUR = 4.38 PLN (1 PLN = 0.228 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Szczecin 10,330 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Szczecin

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 Szczecin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Szczecin cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in clothing, eating out, and transport. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Szczecin?
On paper, salaries run 375% lower in Szczecin. 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 Szczecin?
Rent for a central apartment: $506 in Cebu versus $616 in Szczecin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Szczecin?
All in, you'll spend $934 per month in Cebu versus $1,331 in Szczecin – a 43% 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 98% less than in Szczecin. 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 Szczecin?
At $934 in Cebu versus $1,331 in Szczecin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Szczecin. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Szczecin more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Szczecin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Szczecin?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Szczecin 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 43% less than in Szczecin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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