For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $915 a month against $1,160 in Tukums, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 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 Tukums actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $915 in Cebu versus $1,160 in Tukums.
Cebu $915
Tukums $1,160
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,418 in Cebu versus $1,643 in Tukums.
Cebu $1,418
Tukums $1,643
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,921 in Cebu versus $2,125 in Tukums.
Cebu $1,921
Tukums $2,125
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 21% less than in Tukums, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu33% lower, Tukums14% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Tukums
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.05₱192
$5.43€4.83
-43.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.00₱1,511
$22.70€20.19
5.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.99₱251
$9.08€8.08
-56.06%
Cappuccino
$2.50₱157
$3.74€3.33
-33.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54₱97.1
$1.65€1.47
-6.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50₱31.37
$1.14€1.01
-56.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78₱112
$5.67€5.04
-68.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱136
$5.09€4.53
-57.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Tukums
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00₱126
$1.04€0.92
92.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.37₱86.2
$1.45€1.29
-5.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03₱64.9
$2.51€2.23
-58.96%
Eggs
$2.03₱128
$1.96€1.75
3.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20₱642
$9.14€8.13
11.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.45₱280
$6.52€5.80
-31.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.67₱483
$13.77€12.25
-44.30%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31₱208
$2.08€1.85
59.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46₱91.8
$1.75€1.55
-16.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32₱146
$2.44€2.17
-4.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49₱94.0
$3.25€2.89
-54.15%
Potato(1kg)
$2.34₱147
$0.58€0.52
303.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94₱122
$0.87€0.78
122.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16₱73.0
$1.76€1.57
-34.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68₱42.89
$0.58€0.51
17.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99₱188
$6.74€6.00
-55.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.24₱393
$7.72€6.87
-19.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23₱77.3
$1.17€1.04
5.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73₱109
$2.03€1.80
-14.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Tukums
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23₱14.36
$1.09€0.97
-78.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.34₱777
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79₱49.96
$3.42€3.04
-76.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₱13.86
$1.02€0.91
-78.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.54₱286
$17.41€15.49
-73.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32₱82.9
$1.86€1.65
-29.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K₱1.3M
$26.8K€23.8K
-21.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K₱1.2M
$31.3K€27.8K
-38.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Tukums
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$119₱7,464
$283€252
-58.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.22₱896
$16.72€14.87
-14.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.47₱1,730
$20.04€17.83
37.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Tukums
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.31₱2,034
$35.42€31.50
-8.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.50₱409
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.40₱340
$11.37€10.12
-52.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Tukums
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$276₱17.4K
$692€615
-60.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,866₱495.3K
$18.1K€16.1K
-56.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Tukums
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.37₱3,108
$69.0€61.4
-28.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.58₱1,548
$49.83€44.32
-50.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.6₱4,825
$78.3€69.7
-2.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.9₱3,706
$140€124
-57.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Tukums
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$503₱31.7K
$224€200
124.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305₱19.2K
$219€195
39.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,075₱67.7K
$329€292
226.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632₱39.8K
$336€299
88.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,870₱180.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,877₱118.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Tukums
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$336₱21.1K
$549€488
-38.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
4.77
50.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 19, 2026
Last update for Tukums: 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%
Tukums
$219 18.9% ↓ 28.2%$86
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$210 22.9%
Tukums
$234 20.2% ↑ 11.5%$24
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$160 17.5%
Tukums
$320 27.6% ↑ 99.6%$160
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94 10.3%
Tukums
$152 13.1% ↑ 60.8%$57
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Tukums
$165 14.2% ↑ 88.3%$78
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$43 4.7%
Tukums
$58 5% ↑ 34.9%$15
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$15 1.7%
Tukums
$13 * 1.1% ↓ 15%$2.3
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$632 32.9%
Tukums
$336 15.8% ↓ 46.9%$296
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$491 25.6%
Tukums
$543 25.6% ↑ 10.6%$52
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$174 9.1%
Tukums
$337 15.8% ↑ 92.9%$162
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$209 10.9%
Tukums
$337 15.8% ↑ 60.7%$127
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$290 15.1%
Tukums
$429 20.2% ↑ 47.9%$139
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$93 4.8%
Tukums
$116 * 5.5% ↑ 25.5%$24
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$31 1.6%
Tukums
$28 * 1.3% ↓ 9.2%$2.8
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $503 in Cebu and $224 in Tukums. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tukums pays 63% 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 $23.00 in Tukums. Groceries flip the comparison at $210 vs $234, with Cebu cheaper for home cooking.
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 Tukums: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tukums cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Tukums?
On paper, salaries run 63% lower in Tukums. 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 Tukums?
Rent for a central apartment: $503 in Cebu versus $224 in Tukums. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cebu and in Tukums?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Tukums. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Tukums?
All in, you'll spend $915 per month in Cebu versus $1,160 in Tukums – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 enough for either Cebu or Tukums?
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 Tukums more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tukums, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Tukums?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Tukums 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 27% less than in Tukums. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.