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: $879 in Cebu versus $964 in Zalaegerszeg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,347 in Cebu versus $1,458 in Zalaegerszeg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,815 in Cebu versus $1,952 in Zalaegerszeg.

Living in Cebu costs roughly 9% less than in Zalaegerszeg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 34% lower, Zalaegerszeg 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.34 ₱266

$11.32 Ft 3,582

-61.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.95 ₱1,471

$58.7 Ft 18.6K

-59.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.48 ₱275

$8.43 Ft 2,668

-46.86%

Cappuccino

$2.58 ₱158

$2.21 Ft 700

16.74%

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

$0.78 ₱48.05

$1.62 Ft 514

-51.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.79

$1.25 Ft 397

-64.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱93.3

$1.82 Ft 575

-16.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱132

$1.89 Ft 597

13.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 ₱142

$1.04 Ft 328

122.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ₱93.6

$1.42 Ft 449

7.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.1

$2.07 Ft 655

-43.48%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱145

$3.10 Ft 981

-24.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 ₱778

$9.67 Ft 3,059

31.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 ₱323

$4.67 Ft 1,476

12.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 ₱484

$7.14 Ft 2,259

10.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱214

$1.40 Ft 442

148.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ₱89.8

$1.92 Ft 606

-23.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.32 ₱204

$1.82 Ft 575

82.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 ₱140

$3.48 Ft 1,102

-34.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 ₱163

$1.18 Ft 373

125.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₱151

$1.26 Ft 399

94.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ₱56.9

$1.16 Ft 367

-19.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.64

$0.54 Ft 169

46.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 ₱192

$6.66 Ft 2,106

-53.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.37 ₱391

$6.27 Ft 1,983

1.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₱73.2

$0.90 Ft 285

32.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱138

$1.46 Ft 461

54.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.96

$1.09 Ft 344

-76.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.85 ₱912

$17.44 Ft 5,517

-14.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.3

$3.22 Ft 1,020

-72.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.09

$1.02 Ft 322

-77.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 ₱166

$18.83 Ft 5,956

-85.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.0

$1.82 Ft 574

-39.01%

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

$30.0K ₱1.8M

$26.2K Ft 8.3M

14.36%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$31.6K Ft 10.0M

-15.33%

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

$96.9 ₱5,947

$135 Ft 42.6K

-28.05%

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

$34.35 ₱2,109

$26.61 Ft 8,418

29.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 ₱1,820

$20.00 Ft 6,327

48.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.03 ₱2,028

$36.31 Ft 11.5K

-9.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.50 ₱522

$34.25 Ft 10.8K

-75.18%

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ₱358

$7.07 Ft 2,237

-17.68%

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

$227 ₱13.9K

$200 Ft 63.2K

13.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,968 ₱243.7K

$6,237 Ft 2.0M

-36.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 ₱3,273

$29.12 Ft 9,213

83.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.14 ₱1,421

$22.62 Ft 7,157

2.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 ₱4,584

$47.89 Ft 15.2K

55.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 ₱3,346

$51.0 Ft 16.1K

6.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₱31.6K

$317 Ft 100.3K

62.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 ₱13.3K

$272 Ft 86.2K

-20.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$785 ₱48.2K

$425 Ft 134.4K

84.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 ₱23.8K

$286 Ft 90.4K

35.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,908 ₱178.5K

$1,887 Ft 596.9K

54.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,911 ₱117.3K

$1,589 Ft 502.8K

20.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.2K

$784 Ft 247.9K

-55.90%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Zalaegerszeg: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Cebu and $317 in Zalaegerszeg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zalaegerszeg pays 127% 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 $59.0 in Zalaegerszeg. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $199, 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 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 127% lower in Zalaegerszeg. 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: $515 in Cebu versus $317 in Zalaegerszeg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $879 per month in Cebu versus $964 in Zalaegerszeg – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Cebu runs roughly 17% less than in Zalaegerszeg. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $879 in Cebu versus $964 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 10% less than in Zalaegerszeg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.