For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $915 a month against $1,112 in Troyan, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. The total is higher in Troyan despite lower rent and utilities.
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 Troyan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $915 in Cebu versus $1,112 in Troyan.
Cebu $915
Troyan $1,112
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,418 in Cebu versus $1,740 in Troyan.
Cebu $1,418
Troyan $1,740
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,921 in Cebu versus $2,369 in Troyan.
Cebu $1,921
Troyan $2,369
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 18% less than in Troyan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu33% lower, Troyan18% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Troyan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.05₱192
$16.89BGN 29.38
-81.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.00₱1,511
$51.9BGN 90.4
-53.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.99₱251
$8.74BGN 15.20
-54.35%
Cappuccino
$2.50₱157
$1.45BGN 2.52
72.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54₱97.1
$1.45BGN 2.53
6.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50₱31.37
$1.06BGN 1.84
-52.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78₱112
$1.41BGN 2.46
26.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱136
$1.75BGN 3.05
24.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Troyan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00₱126
$1.88BGN 3.27
6.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.37₱86.2
$0.50BGN 0.88
174.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03₱64.9
$2.20BGN 3.83
-53.18%
Eggs
$2.03₱128
$2.71BGN 4.72
-25.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20₱642
$8.54BGN 14.86
19.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.45₱280
$8.64BGN 15.04
-48.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.67₱483
$17.42BGN 30.32
-55.97%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31₱208
$1.11BGN 1.92
198.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46₱91.8
$1.57BGN 2.74
-7.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32₱146
$1.83BGN 3.18
26.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49₱94.0
$4.23BGN 7.36
-64.78%
Potato(1kg)
$2.34₱147
$0.89BGN 1.55
162.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94₱122
$0.91BGN 1.58
113.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16₱73.0
$1.20BGN 2.09
-3.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68₱42.89
$0.70BGN 1.22
-2.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99₱188
$3.42BGN 5.96
-12.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.24₱393
$7.70BGN 13.40
-18.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23₱77.3
$0.90BGN 1.57
36.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73₱109
$1.85BGN 3.22
-6.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Troyan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23₱14.36
$0.82BGN 1.42
-71.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.34₱777
$24.27BGN 42.22
-49.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79₱49.96
$1.01BGN 1.76
-21.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₱13.86
$0.71BGN 1.23
-69.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.54₱286
$15.62BGN 27.17
-70.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32₱82.9
$1.62BGN 2.82
-18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K₱1.3M
$29.5KBGN 51.4K
-28.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K₱1.2M
$26.8KBGN 46.6K
-27.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Troyan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$119₱7,464
$160BGN 278
-25.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.22₱896
$20.07BGN 34.93
-29.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.47₱1,730
$11.82BGN 20.57
132.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Troyan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.31₱2,034
$29.67BGN 51.6
8.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.50₱409
$16.74BGN 29.12
-61.17%
Cinema Ticket
$5.40₱340
$6.17BGN 10.73
-12.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Troyan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$276₱17.4K
$753BGN 1,310
-63.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,866₱495.3K
$5,967BGN 10.4K
31.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Troyan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.37₱3,108
$89.2BGN 155
-44.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.58₱1,548
$28.49BGN 49.57
-13.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.6₱4,825
$105BGN 183
-27.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.9₱3,706
$109BGN 190
-46.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Troyan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$503₱31.7K
$337BGN 586
49.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305₱19.2K
$248BGN 432
22.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,075₱67.7K
$547BGN 952
96.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632₱39.8K
$393BGN 684
60.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,870₱180.7K
$1,323BGN 2,303
116.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,877₱118.2K
$1,079BGN 1,878
73.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Troyan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$336₱21.1K
$866BGN 1,507
-61.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
2.89
149.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 19, 2026
Last update for Troyan: October 19, 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
$305 33.3%
Troyan
$248 22.3% ↓ 18.5%$56
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210 22.9%
Troyan
$249 22.4% ↑ 19%$40
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$160 17.5%
Troyan
$192 17.3% ↑ 19.7%$32
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94 10.3%
Troyan
$149 13.4% ↑ 58.6%$55
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Troyan
$199 17.9% ↑ 127%$112
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$43 4.7%
Troyan
$42 3.8% ↓ 2.6%$1.1
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$15 1.7%
Troyan
$32 2.9% ↑ 112%$17
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$632 32.9%
Troyan
$393 16.6% ↓ 37.8%$239
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$491 25.6%
Troyan
$590 24.9% ↑ 20%$98
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$174 9.1%
Troyan
$212 9% ↑ 21.5%$37
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$209 10.9%
Troyan
$332 14% ↑ 58.6%$123
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$290 15.1%
Troyan
$675 28.5% ↑ 133%$385
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$93 4.8%
Troyan
$101 4.3% ↑ 8.7%$8
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$31 1.6%
Troyan
$66 2.8% ↑ 114%$35
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $503 in Cebu and $337 in Troyan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Troyan pays 158% 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 $52.0 in Troyan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $249 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 Troyan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Troyan cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Troyan?
On paper, salaries run 158% lower in Troyan. 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 Troyan?
Rent for a central apartment: $503 in Cebu versus $337 in Troyan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Troyan?
All in, you'll spend $915 per month in Cebu versus $1,112 in Troyan – a 22% 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 97% less than in Troyan. 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 Troyan?
At $915 in Cebu versus $1,112 in Troyan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Troyan. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Troyan more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Troyan, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Troyan?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Troyan 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 22% less than in Troyan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.