For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,286 in Terni, rent and utilities included – about $4,400 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 Terni actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $1,286 in Terni.
Cebu $918
Terni $1,286
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $1,984 in Terni.
Cebu $1,409
Terni $1,984
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $2,683 in Terni.
Cebu $1,900
Terni $2,683
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 29% less than in Terni, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu32% lower, Terni5% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Terni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09₱194
$16.99€15.11
-81.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22₱1,525
$68.1€60.6
-64.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.92₱247
$13.15€11.69
-70.19%
Cappuccino
$2.51₱158
$1.63€1.45
53.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59₱100
$2.62€2.33
-39.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53₱33.43
$1.00€0.89
-47.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78₱112
$4.49€3.99
-60.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱137
$5.56€4.95
-60.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Terni
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92₱121
$1.25€1.11
53.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36₱85.4
$1.70€1.51
-20.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01₱63.5
$2.20€1.95
-54.09%
Eggs
$2.03₱128
$3.34€2.97
-39.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.86₱621
$13.53€12.04
-27.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.39₱277
$8.89€7.91
-50.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60₱479
$13.44€11.96
-43.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30₱208
$1.14€1.01
189.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39₱87.8
$1.15€1.02
20.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33₱147
$1.14€1.01
104.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50₱94.3
$2.28€2.02
-34.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36₱149
$0.76€0.68
210.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90₱119
$1.42€1.26
33.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₱74.9
$0.75€0.67
58.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63₱39.71
$0.32€0.28
96.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00₱189
$6.60€5.87
-54.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.03₱379
$5.70€5.07
5.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23₱77.7
$1.13€1.01
8.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75₱110
$1.59€1.42
10.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Terni
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.86
$1.58€1.41
-84.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.64₱796
$33.00€29.35
-61.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77₱48.62
$5.49€4.88
-85.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱14.53
$1.42€1.26
-83.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.46₱281
$24.78€22.04
-82.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31₱82.8
$2.11€1.88
-37.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K₱1.3M
$33.3K€29.6K
-36.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K₱1.2M
$34.6K€30.7K
-44.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Terni
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120₱7,569
$148€132
-18.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00₱882
$8.26€7.35
69.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54₱1,734
$30.52€27.15
-9.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Terni
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.33₱2,035
$56.0€49.77
-42.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65₱419
$11.27€10.03
-40.99%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65₱356
$10.30€9.16
-45.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Terni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$275₱17.3K
$333€296
-17.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,918₱498.5K
$12.1K€10.7K
-34.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Terni
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33₱3,106
$82.8€73.6
-40.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24₱1,589
$32.90€29.26
-23.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0₱4,846
$101€89.6
-23.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2₱3,601
$78.7€70.0
-27.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Terni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500₱31.5K
$339€301
47.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₱19.4K
$357€318
-13.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,078₱67.9K
$637€566
69.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$615₱38.7K
$527€469
16.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,886₱181.7K
$1,348€1,199
114.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,917₱120.7K
$789€702
142.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Terni
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$346₱21.8K
$1,454€1,293
-76.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
3.02
138.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026
Last update for Terni: 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%
Terni
$357 27.8% ↑ 15.7%$49
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206 22.4%
Terni
$238 18.5% ↑ 15.5%$32
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162 17.6%
Terni
$187 14.5% ↑ 15.6%$25
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94 10.2%
Terni
$133 10.3% ↑ 41.3%$39
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Terni
$243 18.9% ↑ 175%$155
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44 4.8%
Terni
$77 6% ↑ 75.5%$33
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$16 1.7%
Terni
$52 4% ↑ 234%$36
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$615 32.4%
Terni
$527 19.7% ↓ 14.3%$88
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$483 25.4%
Terni
$563 21% ↑ 16.5%$80
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$176 9.3%
Terni
$195 7.3% ↑ 11.1%$19
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$209 11%
Terni
$295 11% ↑ 41.4%$86
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$292 15.4%
Terni
$831 31% ↑ 185%$539
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$94 4.9%
Terni
$164 6.1% ↑ 75.1%$70
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$32 1.7%
Terni
$107 4% ↑ 238%$75
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $339 in Terni. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Terni pays 320% 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 Terni for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $238 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 Terni: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Terni cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Terni?
On paper, salaries run 320% lower in Terni. 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 Terni?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $339 in Terni. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Terni?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $1,286 in Terni – a 40% 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 161% less than in Terni. 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 Terni?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,286 in Terni, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Terni. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Terni more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Terni, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Terni?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Terni 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 40% less than in Terni. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.