Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Yanbu

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,031 in Yanbu, rent and utilities included – about $1,400 less a year. The total is higher in Yanbu despite lower rent and utilities.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Yanbu
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,031
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Yanbu

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $1,031 in Yanbu.

  • Cebu $918
  • Yanbu $1,031

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $1,633 in Yanbu.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Yanbu $1,633

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $2,236 in Yanbu.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Yanbu $2,236

Living in Cebu costs roughly 11% less than in Yanbu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Yanbu 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Yanbu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$6.26 SAR 23.48
-50.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$37.63 SAR 141
-35.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$6.63 SAR 24.87
-40.87%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.57 SAR 5.87
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.62 SAR 6.10
-
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$3.89 SAR 14.61
-35.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$0.86 SAR 3.24
84.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$0.20 SAR 0.76
165.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Yanbu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$1.74 SAR 6.53
10.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$0.92 SAR 3.47
47.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$2.16 SAR 8.12
-53.24%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$2.41 SAR 9.04
-15.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$6.51 SAR 24.44
51.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$8.27 SAR 31.02
-46.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$12.89 SAR 48.36
-41.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$2.05 SAR 7.68
60.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$1.74 SAR 6.54
-20.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$1.50 SAR 5.62
55.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$1.69 SAR 6.33
-11.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$1.12 SAR 4.21
110.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$1.05 SAR 3.94
80.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$1.09 SAR 4.09
9.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$0.54 SAR 2.03
16.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.31 SAR 4.92
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.36 SAR 5.10
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.18 SAR 8.20
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$6.53 SAR 24.51
-54.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Yanbu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
$1.05 SAR 3.93
-76.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
$36.72 SAR 138
-65.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$3.13 SAR 11.76
-75.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$0.83 SAR 3.12
-72.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$13.99 SAR 52.5
-68.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$0.58 SAR 2.18
125.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$46.8K SAR 175.5K
-54.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$21.6K SAR 80.9K
-11.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Yanbu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$90.7 SAR 340
32.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$22.55 SAR 84.6
-37.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$68.7 SAR 258
-59.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Yanbu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$98.7 SAR 370
-67.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
$26.18 SAR 98.2
-74.60%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$11.97 SAR 44.91
-52.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Yanbu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$268 SAR 1,007
2.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$3,785 SAR 14.2K
109.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Yanbu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$74.5 SAR 279
-33.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$56.8 SAR 213
-55.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$98.0 SAR 368
-21.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$93.7 SAR 352
-38.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Yanbu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$308 SAR 1,156
62.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$216 SAR 810
42.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$602 SAR 2,261
78.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
$424 SAR 1,592
45.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
$2,369 SAR 8,890
21.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$1,269 SAR 4,763
50.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Yanbu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
$3,510 SAR 13.2K
-90.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
5.39
33.58%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Yanbu: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Yanbu
$216 30.1% $93
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Yanbu
$196 4.8% $10
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Yanbu
$182 12.5% $20
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Yanbu
$145 54.7% $51
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Yanbu
$121 37% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Yanbu
$123 181% $79
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Yanbu
$48 210% $33

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $308 in Yanbu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yanbu pays 915% 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 $38.00 in Yanbu. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $196, with Yanbu cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇸🇦 Yanbu
🕒 Local time
20:25 8:25 PM
15:25 3:25 PM
5 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
233,236
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

SAR, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.22 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Yanbu 9,120 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Yanbu

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 Yanbu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yanbu cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in clothing, eating out, and leisure. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Yanbu?
On paper, salaries run 915% lower in Yanbu. 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 Yanbu?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $308 in Yanbu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Yanbu?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $1,031 in Yanbu – a 12% 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 191% less than in Yanbu. 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 Yanbu?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,031 in Yanbu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Yanbu. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Yanbu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Yanbu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Yanbu?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Yanbu 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 12% less than in Yanbu. 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?