Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Trollhattan

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,527 in Trollhattan, rent and utilities included – about $7,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Trollhattan
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,527
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Trollhattan

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $1,527 in Trollhattan.

  • Cebu $918
  • Trollhattan $1,527

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $2,365 in Trollhattan.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Trollhattan $2,365

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $3,203 in Trollhattan.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Trollhattan $3,203

Living in Cebu costs roughly 40% less than in Trollhattan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 32% below, Trollhattan is 13% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Trollhattan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$11.79 SEK 117
-73.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$78.5 SEK 778
-69.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$11.10 SEK 110
-64.68%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$2.44 SEK 24.18
2.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$1.27 SEK 12.53
25.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$1.31 SEK 12.97
-59.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$7.56 SEK 75.0
-76.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$7.43 SEK 73.6
-70.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Trollhattan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$1.38 SEK 13.67
39.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$2.17 SEK 21.51
-37.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$2.62 SEK 26.00
-61.45%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$3.73 SEK 36.99
-45.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$9.57 SEK 94.9
3.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$8.80 SEK 87.2
-50.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$14.99 SEK 148
-49.30%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$1.27 SEK 12.59
159.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$2.44 SEK 24.15
-43.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$2.73 SEK 27.08
-14.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$2.35 SEK 23.29
-36.17%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$1.46 SEK 14.50
61.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$1.18 SEK 11.66
61.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$1.97 SEK 19.54
-39.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$1.09 SEK 10.78
-42.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$7.38 SEK 73.2
-59.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
$7.78 SEK 77.1
-22.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$1.41 SEK 13.95
-12.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$1.94 SEK 19.23
-9.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Trollhattan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
$3.55 SEK 35.22
-92.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
$80.2 SEK 794
-84.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$3.58 SEK 35.46
-78.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$1.74 SEK 17.28
-86.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$53.4 SEK 529
-91.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$1.79 SEK 17.76
-26.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$32.7K SEK 324.0K
-35.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$32.9K SEK 326.1K
-41.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Trollhattan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$178 SEK 1,768
-32.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$22.42 SEK 222
-37.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$34.23 SEK 339
-19.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Trollhattan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$33.45 SEK 331
-3.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
$33.25 SEK 329
-80.00%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$14.71 SEK 146
-61.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Trollhattan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$150 SEK 1,489
83.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$5,009 SEK 49.6K
58.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Trollhattan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$97.1 SEK 962
-49.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$39.31 SEK 390
-35.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$85.5 SEK 847
-9.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$89.3 SEK 885
-35.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Trollhattan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$620 SEK 6,141
-19.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$486 SEK 4,811
-36.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$1,016 SEK 10.1K
6.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
$785 SEK 7,782
-21.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
$2,911 SEK 28.8K
-0.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$2,524 SEK 25.0K
-24.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Trollhattan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
$3,116 SEK 30.9K
-88.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
3.53
103.97%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Trollhattan: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Trollhattan
$486 57.2% $177
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Trollhattan
$276 34.3% $71
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Trollhattan
$235 45.3% $73
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Trollhattan
$140 49.1% $46
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Trollhattan
$220 149% $132
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Trollhattan
$63 44.1% $19
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Trollhattan
$107 585% $91

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $620 in Trollhattan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Trollhattan pays 801% 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 $78.0 in Trollhattan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $276 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇸🇪 Trollhattan
🕒 Local time
16:28 4:28 PM
10:28 10:28 AM
6 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
44,498
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, 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).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Trollhattan 10,250 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Trollhattan

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 Trollhattan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trollhattan cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 66% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Trollhattan?
On paper, salaries run 801% lower in Trollhattan. 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 Trollhattan?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $620 in Trollhattan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Trollhattan?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $1,527 in Trollhattan – a 66% 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 534% less than in Trollhattan. 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 Trollhattan?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,527 in Trollhattan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Trollhattan. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Trollhattan more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Trollhattan, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Trollhattan?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Trollhattan 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 66% less than in Trollhattan. 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?