Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Szczecinek

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,468 in Szczecinek, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Szczecinek
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,468
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Szczecinek

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $1,468 in Szczecinek.

  • Cebu $918
  • Szczecinek $1,468

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $2,118 in Szczecinek.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Szczecinek $2,118

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $2,769 in Szczecinek.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Szczecinek $2,769

Living in Cebu costs roughly 37% less than in Szczecinek, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 32% below, Szczecinek is 9% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Szczecinek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$11.62 zł 45.14
-73.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$42.81 zł 166
-43.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$9.07 zł 35.22
-56.78%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$3.48 zł 13.51
-27.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$1.16 zł 4.51
37.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$0.87 zł 3.38
-39.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$3.10 zł 12.05
-42.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$1.37 zł 5.34
58.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Szczecinek
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$0.90 zł 3.51
113.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$1.26 zł 4.89
7.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$1.36 zł 5.28
-25.74%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$3.53 zł 13.70
-42.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$7.64 zł 29.69
29.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$5.98 zł 23.23
-26.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$13.19 zł 51.3
-42.38%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$1.19 zł 4.64
177.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$1.13 zł 4.41
23.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$1.64 zł 6.38
42.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$2.43 zł 9.44
-38.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$0.76 zł 2.94
210.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$0.80 zł 3.12
137.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$1.28 zł 4.96
-7.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$0.68 zł 2.65
-7.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$5.59 zł 21.70
-46.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
$7.53 zł 29.26
-19.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$1.12 zł 4.36
9.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$1.47 zł 5.71
19.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Szczecinek
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
$1.06 zł 4.13
-76.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
$27.13 zł 105
-53.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$2.28 zł 8.86
-66.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$1.04 zł 4.02
-77.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$11.56 zł 44.92
-61.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$1.48 zł 5.77
-11.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$31.0K zł 120.3K
-31.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$27.8K zł 108.0K
-31.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Szczecinek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$290 zł 1,126
-58.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$7.77 zł 30.20
80.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$18.34 zł 71.3
50.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Szczecinek
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$38.27 zł 149
-15.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
$20.63 zł 80.2
-67.77%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$7.59 zł 29.49
-25.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Szczecinek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$206 zł 800
33.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$7,398 zł 28.7K
7.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Szczecinek
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$78.3 zł 304
-36.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$36.84 zł 143
-31.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$87.3 zł 339
-11.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$108 zł 421
-47.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Szczecinek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$559 zł 2,173
-10.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$526 zł 2,045
-41.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$1,019 zł 3,959
5.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
$850 zł 3,303
-27.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
$3,303 zł 12.8K
-12.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$2,012 zł 7,816
-4.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Szczecinek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
$1,300 zł 5,049
-73.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
4.2
71.43%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Szczecinek: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Szczecinek
$526 70.4% $217
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Szczecinek
$206 0% $0
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Szczecinek
$316 95.3% $154
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Szczecinek
$140 48.9% $46
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Szczecinek
$188 113% $100
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Szczecinek
$53 22.5% $9.8
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Szczecinek
$39 150% $23

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $559 in Szczecinek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Szczecinek pays 276% 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 $43.00 in Szczecinek for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $206 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇵🇱 Szczecinek
🕒 Local time
10:00 10:00 AM
04:00 4:00 AM
6 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
39,705
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Szczecinek 10,190 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Szczecinek

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 Szczecinek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Szczecinek cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in clothing, eating out, and leisure. The 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Szczecinek?
On paper, salaries run 276% lower in Szczecinek. 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 Szczecinek?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $559 in Szczecinek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Szczecinek?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $1,468 in Szczecinek – a 60% 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 115% less than in Szczecinek. 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 Szczecinek?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,468 in Szczecinek, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Szczecinek. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Szczecinek more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Szczecinek, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Szczecinek?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Szczecinek 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 60% less than in Szczecinek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Cebu vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?