Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Toyama

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,156 in Toyama, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Toyama
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,156
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Toyama

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $1,156 in Toyama.

  • Cebu $918
  • Toyama $1,156

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $1,838 in Toyama.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Toyama $1,838

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $2,519 in Toyama.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Toyama $2,519

Living in Cebu costs roughly 21% less than in Toyama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Toyama 14% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Toyama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$3.93 ¥621
-21.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$41.37 ¥6,536
-41.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$5.18 ¥819
-24.32%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$3.51 ¥555
-28.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$1.04 ¥164
52.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$0.74 ¥117
-28.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$2.59 ¥410
-31.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$3.19 ¥504
-31.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Toyama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$1.07 ¥169
79.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$0.77 ¥122
76.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$3.66 ¥579
-72.40%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$1.98 ¥313
2.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$10.52 ¥1,662
-6.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$5.98 ¥945
-26.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$14.45 ¥2,283
-47.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$5.75 ¥909
-42.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$2.70 ¥426
-48.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$2.95 ¥467
-21.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$4.20 ¥663
-64.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$2.52 ¥398
-6.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$2.53 ¥400
-24.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$1.23 ¥195
-3.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$0.64 ¥102
-1.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$3.80 ¥600
-21.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
$6.25 ¥988
-3.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$1.82 ¥287
-32.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$2.00 ¥315
-12.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Toyama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
$1.52 ¥240
-83.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
$58.7 ¥9,270
-78.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$3.19 ¥503
-75.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$2.71 ¥428
-91.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$20.33 ¥3,211
-78.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$1.11 ¥176
18.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$21.7K ¥3.4M
-2.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$18.2K ¥2.9M
5.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Toyama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$133 ¥21.0K
-9.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$23.98 ¥3,788
-41.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$32.22 ¥5,091
-14.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Toyama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$52.9 ¥8,351
-38.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$11.50 ¥1,817
-50.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Toyama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$634 ¥100.2K
-56.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$14.6K ¥2.3M
-45.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Toyama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$61.6 ¥9,735
-19.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$37.28 ¥5,889
-32.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$60.7 ¥9,583
26.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$100 ¥15.8K
-42.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Toyama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$233 ¥36.8K
114.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$303 ¥47.8K
1.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$1,105 ¥174.6K
-2.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
$648 ¥102.4K
-5.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
$3,962 ¥625.9K
-27.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$1,608 ¥254.1K
19.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Toyama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
2.64
172.73%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Toyama: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Toyama
$303 1.9% $6
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Toyama
$274 33.3% $69
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Toyama
$189 16.9% $27
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Toyama
$117 24.4% $23
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Toyama
$116 31% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Toyama
$76 73.9% $32
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Toyama
$81 423% $66

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $233 in Toyama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $41.00 in Toyama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $274 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇯🇵 Toyama
🕒 Local time
19:27 7:27 PM
20:27 8:27 PM
1 h ahead of Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
421,259
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Toyama 3,230 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Toyama

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 Toyama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toyama cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,377 in Cebu and $1,735 in Toyama to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Cebu and Toyama?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $233 in Toyama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Toyama?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $1,156 in Toyama – a 26% 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 364% less than in Toyama. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Cebu or Toyama?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Cebu gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Cebu or Toyama more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Toyama, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Toyama?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Toyama 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 26% less than in Toyama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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