Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Zalaegerszeg Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Zalaegerszeg

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $854 in Cebu versus $980 in Zalaegerszeg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,318 in Cebu versus $1,468 in Zalaegerszeg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,782 in Cebu versus $1,955 in Zalaegerszeg.

Living in Cebu costs roughly 13% less than in Zalaegerszeg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 36% lower, Zalaegerszeg 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.40 ₱271

$11.61 Ft 3,622

-62.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.98 ₱1,479

$56.8 Ft 17.7K

-57.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$8.38 Ft 2,614

-45.82%

Cappuccino

$2.53 ₱156

$2.26 Ft 707

11.95%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₱52.6

$1.67 Ft 522

-49.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.85

$1.24 Ft 387

-63.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱93.6

$1.82 Ft 567

-16.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.91 Ft 596

14.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 ₱142

$0.99 Ft 307

132.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ₱96.8

$1.40 Ft 436

12.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ₱71.2

$2.06 Ft 644

-44.17%

Eggs

$2.36 ₱146

$3.06 Ft 955

-22.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 ₱804

$9.83 Ft 3,066

32.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.10 ₱314

$4.58 Ft 1,430

11.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 ₱490

$7.38 Ft 2,301

7.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 ₱215

$1.46 Ft 455

139.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₱92.9

$1.97 Ft 615

-23.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$1.92 Ft 598

71.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱135

$3.65 Ft 1,137

-40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.17 Ft 364

123.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₱151

$1.20 Ft 376

104.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.9

$1.16 Ft 363

-20.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.4

$0.58 Ft 180

43.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.27 ₱202

$6.65 Ft 2,075

-50.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 ₱416

$5.80 Ft 1,808

16.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.7

$0.82 Ft 255

47.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱140

$1.41 Ft 439

60.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.37

$1.04 Ft 325

-73.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.14 ₱934

$17.23 Ft 5,375

-12.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.6

$3.21 Ft 1,002

-72.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.50

$1.06 Ft 331

-76.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 ₱161

$18.67 Ft 5,826

-86.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱70.3

$1.76 Ft 549

-35.23%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.6K ₱1.8M

$26.1K Ft 8.1M

13.26%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K ₱1.7M

$31.0K Ft 9.7M

-12.89%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$95.2 ₱5,870

$135 Ft 42.2K

-29.58%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$33.67 ₱2,077

$25.97 Ft 8,104

29.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.79 ₱1,837

$19.75 Ft 6,161

50.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.90 ₱2,029

$37.15 Ft 11.6K

-11.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.16 ₱503

$34.09 Ft 10.6K

-76.06%

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₱357

$7.24 Ft 2,260

-20.03%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$232 ₱14.3K

$204 Ft 63.7K

13.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,860 ₱238.1K

$12.3K Ft 3.8M

-68.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 ₱3,214

$29.35 Ft 9,158

77.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.82 ₱1,407

$22.77 Ft 7,104

0.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ₱4,736

$47.44 Ft 14.8K

61.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.3 ₱3,351

$52.3 Ft 16.3K

3.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 ₱30.6K

$316 Ft 98.6K

57.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 ₱13.2K

$273 Ft 85.3K

-21.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ₱49.2K

$436 Ft 136.1K

82.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₱23.8K

$292 Ft 91.3K

31.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,968 ₱183.1K

$1,932 Ft 602.9K

53.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,963 ₱121.1K

$1,592 Ft 496.7K

23.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$383 ₱23.6K

$805 Ft 251.1K

-52.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.29%

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

Last update for Cebu: April 28, 2026

Last update for Zalaegerszeg: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $497 in Cebu and $316 in Zalaegerszeg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zalaegerszeg pays 110% 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 $57.0 in Zalaegerszeg. Groceries flip the comparison at $242 vs $200, with Zalaegerszeg cheaper for home cooking.

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 Zalaegerszeg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Zalaegerszeg earns 110% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $497 in Cebu versus $316 in Zalaegerszeg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $854 per month in Cebu versus $980 in Zalaegerszeg – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Cebu runs roughly 14% less than in Zalaegerszeg. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $854 in Cebu versus $980 in Zalaegerszeg, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Zalaegerszeg. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Zalaegerszeg, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Cebu and Zalaegerszeg are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Zalaegerszeg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.