For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,757 in Zlin, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Rent and utilities 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 Zlin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $1,757 in Zlin.
Cebu $918
Zlin $1,757
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $2,402 in Zlin.
Cebu $1,409
Zlin $2,402
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $3,047 in Zlin.
Cebu $1,900
Zlin $3,047
🌍
Living in Cebu costs roughly 48% less than in Zlin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Cebu is 32% below, Zlin is 30% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Zlin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09₱194
$9.28Kč 201
-66.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22₱1,525
$36.10Kč 781
-32.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.92₱247
$6.22Kč 135
-36.98%
Cappuccino
$2.51₱158
$3.15Kč 68.1
-20.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59₱100
$2.01Kč 43.36
-20.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53₱33.43
$1.61Kč 34.92
-67.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78₱112
$2.35Kč 50.8
-24.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱137
$2.83Kč 61.2
-23.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Zlin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92₱121
$1.01Kč 21.93
90.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36₱85.4
$1.25Kč 26.93
8.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01₱63.5
$2.22Kč 48.10
-54.50%
Eggs
$2.03₱128
$3.50Kč 75.7
-42.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.86₱621
$13.53Kč 293
-27.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.39₱277
$9.65Kč 209
-54.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60₱479
$13.95Kč 302
-45.52%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30₱208
$1.58Kč 34.27
108.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39₱87.8
$1.74Kč 37.72
-20.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33₱147
$2.01Kč 43.48
15.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50₱94.3
$3.61Kč 78.1
-58.45%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36₱149
$1.05Kč 22.65
124.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90₱119
$0.92Kč 19.94
106.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₱74.9
$1.46Kč 31.63
-18.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63₱39.71
$0.64Kč 13.77
-1.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00₱189
$7.24Kč 157
-58.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.03₱379
$6.59Kč 143
-8.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23₱77.7
$0.84Kč 18.13
46.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75₱110
$1.90Kč 41.03
-7.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Zlin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₱15.86
$0.78Kč 16.89
-67.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.64₱796
$27.60Kč 597
-54.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77₱48.62
$2.68Kč 58.0
-71.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱14.53
$1.58Kč 34.22
-85.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.46₱281
$15.53Kč 336
-71.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31₱82.8
$1.78Kč 38.44
-26.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K₱1.3M
$30.1KKč 652.0K
-29.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K₱1.2M
$29.8KKč 644.1K
-35.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Zlin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120₱7,569
$345Kč 7,468
-65.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00₱882
$20.90Kč 452
-33.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54₱1,734
$19.95Kč 431
38.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Zlin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.33₱2,035
$50.3Kč 1,087
-35.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65₱419
$11.45Kč 248
-41.92%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65₱356
$10.57Kč 229
-46.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Zlin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$275₱17.3K
$254Kč 5,490
8.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,918₱498.5K
$5,344Kč 115.6K
48.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Zlin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33₱3,106
$110Kč 2,375
-55.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24₱1,589
$33.95Kč 734
-25.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0₱4,846
$129Kč 2,779
-40.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2₱3,601
$111Kč 2,394
-48.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Zlin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500₱31.5K
$791Kč 17.1K
-36.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₱19.4K
$663Kč 14.3K
-53.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,078₱67.9K
$1,147Kč 24.8K
-6.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$615₱38.7K
$898Kč 19.4K
-31.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,886₱181.7K
$4,936Kč 106.7K
-41.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,917₱120.7K
$3,422Kč 74.0K
-44.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Zlin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$346₱21.8K
$1,466Kč 31.7K
-76.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
5.33
35.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026
Last update for Zlin: October 10, 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
$309 33.6%
Zlin
$663 37.7% ↑ 115%$354
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206 22.4%
Zlin
$260 14.8% ↑ 26.5%$54
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162 17.6%
Zlin
$386 22% ↑ 139%$224
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94 10.2%
Zlin
$172 9.8% ↑ 83.5%$78
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$88 9.6%
Zlin
$163 9.3% ↑ 84.2%$74
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44 4.8%
Zlin
$71 4.1% ↑ 63.7%$28
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$16 1.7%
Zlin
$41 2.4% ↑ 165%$26
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$615 32.4%
Zlin
$898 29.5% ↑ 46%$283
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$483 25.4%
Zlin
$615 20.2% ↑ 27.3%$132
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$176 9.3%
Zlin
$407 13.4% ↑ 132%$231
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$209 11%
Zlin
$383 12.6% ↑ 83.5%$174
🍽Eating Out
Cebu
$292 15.4%
Zlin
$506 16.6% ↑ 73.3%$214
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$94 4.9%
Zlin
$154 5.1% ↑ 64.3%$60
🚌Getting Around
Cebu
$32 1.7%
Zlin
$84 2.8% ↑ 166%$53
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $791 in Zlin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zlin pays 324% 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 $36.00 in Zlin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $260 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 Zlin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zlin cheaper than Cebu?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 91% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Zlin?
On paper, salaries run 324% lower in Zlin. 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 Zlin?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $791 in Zlin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Zlin?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $1,757 in Zlin – a 91% 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 118% less than in Zlin. 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 Zlin?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,757 in Zlin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Zlin. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cebu or Zlin more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Zlin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Zlin?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Zlin 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 91% less than in Zlin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.