For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $3,388 in Thun, rent and utilities included – about $29,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half 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 Thun actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $3,388 in Thun.
Cebu $918
Thun $3,388
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $5,170 in Thun.
Cebu $1,409
Thun $5,170
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $6,952 in Thun.
Cebu $1,900
Thun $6,952
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 73% less than in Thun, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 32% below, Thun is 151% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Thun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09₱194
$28.31CHF 23.32
-89.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22₱1,525
$122CHF 100
-80.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.92₱247
$15.51CHF 12.77
-74.73%
Cappuccino
$2.51₱158
$6.45CHF 5.31
-61.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59₱100
$6.28CHF 5.17
-74.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53₱33.43
$5.88CHF 4.84
-90.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78₱112
$8.85CHF 7.29
-79.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱137
$7.67CHF 6.32
-71.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Thun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92₱121
$2.13CHF 1.76
-9.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36₱85.4
$2.99CHF 2.46
-54.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01₱63.5
$3.13CHF 2.58
-67.73%
Eggs
$2.03₱128
$7.60CHF 6.26
-73.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.86₱621
$23.82CHF 19.62
-58.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.39₱277
$26.88CHF 22.14
-83.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60₱479
$39.26CHF 32.34
-80.64%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30₱208
$3.55CHF 2.92
-7.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39₱87.8
$1.96CHF 1.61
-29.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33₱147
$2.65CHF 2.18
-12.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50₱94.3
$4.73CHF 3.90
-68.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36₱149
$1.56CHF 1.28
51.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90₱119
$2.00CHF 1.65
-5.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₱74.9
$2.19CHF 1.80
-45.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63₱39.71
$1.28CHF 1.05
-50.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00₱189
$11.25CHF 9.26
-73.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.03₱379
$12.09CHF 9.96
-50.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23₱77.7
$2.26CHF 1.86
-45.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75₱110
$2.92CHF 2.41
-40.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Thun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.86
$4.49CHF 3.70
-94.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.64₱796
$100CHF 82.6
-87.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77₱48.62
$8.04CHF 6.62
-90.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱14.53
$4.53CHF 3.73
-94.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.46₱281
$82.9CHF 68.3
-94.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31₱82.8
$2.38CHF 1.96
-44.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K₱1.3M
$42.5KCHF 35.0K
-50.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K₱1.2M
$39.4KCHF 32.5K
-51.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Thun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120₱7,569
$289CHF 238
-58.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00₱882
$46.36CHF 38.18
-69.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54₱1,734
$62.8CHF 51.7
-56.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Thun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.33₱2,035
$89.8CHF 74.0
-64.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65₱419
$46.01CHF 37.89
-85.55%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65₱356
$23.22CHF 19.12
-75.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Thun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$275₱17.3K
$3,058CHF 2,519
-91.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,918₱498.5K
$30.5KCHF 25.1K
-74.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Thun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33₱3,106
$144CHF 119
-65.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24₱1,589
$78.8CHF 64.9
-67.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0₱4,846
$159CHF 131
-51.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2₱3,601
$192CHF 158
-70.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Thun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500₱31.5K
$1,685CHF 1,388
-70.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₱19.4K
$1,432CHF 1,180
-78.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,078₱67.9K
$2,842CHF 2,341
-62.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$615₱38.7K
$2,457CHF 2,023
-74.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,886₱181.7K
$16.2KCHF 13.4K
-82.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,917₱120.7K
$11.8KCHF 9,721
-83.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Thun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$346₱21.8K
$5,785CHF 4,765
-94.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
2.42
197.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026
Last update for Thun: October 11, 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%
Thun
$1.4K 42.3% ↑ 364%$1.1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206 22.4%
Thun
$556 16.4% ↑ 170%$350
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162 17.6%
Thun
$398 11.8% ↑ 146%$237
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94 10.2%
Thun
$258 7.6% ↑ 175%$164
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Thun
$459 13.5% ↑ 420%$370
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44 4.8%
Thun
$136 4% ↑ 212%$93
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$16 1.7%
Thun
$149 4.4% ↑ 857%$133
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$615 32.4%
Thun
$2.5K 35.3% ↑ 299%$1.8K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$483 25.4%
Thun
$1.3K 19.1% ↑ 175%$843
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$176 9.3%
Thun
$445 6.4% ↑ 153%$269
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$209 11%
Thun
$574 8.3% ↑ 175%$365
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$292 15.4%
Thun
$1.5K 22% ↑ 422%$1.2K
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$94 4.9%
Thun
$319 4.6% ↑ 239%$225
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$32 1.7%
Thun
$307 4.4% ↑ 870%$275
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $1,685 in Thun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Thun pays 1572% 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 $122 in Thun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $556 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 Thun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thun cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 269% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Thun?
On paper, salaries run 1572% lower in Thun. 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 Thun?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $1,685 in Thun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Thun?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $3,388 in Thun – a 269% 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 693% less than in Thun. 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 Thun?
At $918 in Cebu versus $3,388 in Thun, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Thun. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Thun more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Thun, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Thun?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Thun 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 269% less than in Thun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.