For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,227 in Szeged, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 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 Szeged actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $1,227 in Szeged.
Cebu $918
Szeged $1,227
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $1,912 in Szeged.
Cebu $1,409
Szeged $1,912
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $2,596 in Szeged.
Cebu $1,900
Szeged $2,596
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 25% less than in Szeged, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu32% lower, Szeged9% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Szeged
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09₱194
$8.98Ft 2,902
-65.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22₱1,525
$57.4Ft 18.5K
-57.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.92₱247
$9.34Ft 3,018
-58.03%
Cappuccino
$2.51₱158
$2.41Ft 777
4.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59₱100
$1.56Ft 504
1.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53₱33.43
$1.33Ft 429
-60.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78₱112
$2.33Ft 754
-23.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱137
$2.22Ft 717
-2.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Szeged
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92₱121
$1.22Ft 393
57.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36₱85.4
$1.37Ft 441
-0.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01₱63.5
$2.42Ft 781
-58.26%
Eggs
$2.03₱128
$3.56Ft 1,150
-42.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.86₱621
$10.46Ft 3,378
-5.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.39₱277
$6.41Ft 2,070
-31.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60₱479
$16.40Ft 5,298
-53.66%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30₱208
$2.28Ft 737
44.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39₱87.8
$2.21Ft 716
-37.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33₱147
$2.05Ft 662
13.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50₱94.3
$3.35Ft 1,082
-55.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36₱149
$0.98Ft 317
140.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90₱119
$1.04Ft 336
82.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₱74.9
$1.66Ft 537
-28.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63₱39.71
$0.52Ft 167
21.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00₱189
$8.04Ft 2,599
-62.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.03₱379
$5.45Ft 1,760
10.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23₱77.7
$1.26Ft 407
-2.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75₱110
$1.99Ft 643
-12.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Szeged
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.86
$1.63Ft 527
-84.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.64₱796
$29.42Ft 9,505
-57.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77₱48.62
$3.02Ft 975
-74.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱14.53
$1.65Ft 533
-86.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.46₱281
$18.15Ft 5,864
-75.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31₱82.8
$1.90Ft 615
-31.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K₱1.3M
$29.5KFt 9.5M
-27.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K₱1.2M
$37.9KFt 12.2M
-49.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Szeged
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120₱7,569
$127Ft 40.9K
-5.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00₱882
$21.61Ft 6,981
-35.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54₱1,734
$20.17Ft 6,515
36.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Szeged
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.33₱2,035
$46.93Ft 15.2K
-31.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65₱419
$29.12Ft 9,409
-77.16%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65₱356
$8.59Ft 2,775
-34.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Szeged
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$275₱17.3K
$248Ft 80.2K
10.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,918₱498.5K
$6,658Ft 2.2M
18.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Szeged
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33₱3,106
$114Ft 36.9K
-56.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24₱1,589
$32.26Ft 10.4K
-21.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0₱4,846
$94.2Ft 30.4K
-18.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2₱3,601
$114Ft 36.7K
-49.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Szeged
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500₱31.5K
$523Ft 168.9K
-4.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₱19.4K
$380Ft 122.9K
-18.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,078₱67.9K
$761Ft 245.8K
41.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$615₱38.7K
$603Ft 194.7K
2.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,886₱181.7K
$3,103Ft 1.0M
-6.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,917₱120.7K
$2,320Ft 749.4K
-17.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Szeged
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$346₱21.8K
$1,234Ft 398.7K
-71.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
6.67
7.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026
Last update for Szeged: October 10, 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%
Szeged
$380 31% ↑ 23.1%$71
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206 22.4%
Szeged
$251 20.5% ↑ 21.9%$45
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162 17.6%
Szeged
$169 13.7% ↑ 4.2%$6.8
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94 10.2%
Szeged
$159 13% ↑ 69.6%$65
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Szeged
$156 12.8% ↑ 77.2%$68
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44 4.8%
Szeged
$64 5.2% ↑ 47%$20
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$16 1.7%
Szeged
$47 3.9% ↑ 203%$32
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$615 32.4%
Szeged
$603 23.2% ↓ 2%$12
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$483 25.4%
Szeged
$596 23% ↑ 23.5%$113
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$176 9.3%
Szeged
$190 7.3% ↑ 8.2%$14
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$209 11%
Szeged
$354 13.6% ↑ 69.6%$145
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$292 15.4%
Szeged
$598 23% ↑ 105%$306
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$94 4.9%
Szeged
$157 6.1% ↑ 67.6%$63
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$32 1.7%
Szeged
$98 3.8% ↑ 209%$66
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $523 in Szeged. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Szeged pays 257% 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 $57.0 in Szeged for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $251 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 Szeged: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Szeged cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Szeged?
On paper, salaries run 257% lower in Szeged. 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 Szeged?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $523 in Szeged. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Szeged?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $1,227 in Szeged – a 34% 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 133% less than in Szeged. 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 Szeged?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,227 in Szeged, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Szeged. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Szeged more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Szeged, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Szeged?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Szeged 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 34% less than in Szeged. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.