Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Delhi and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Delhi: $520 a month against $934 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Delhi
🇮🇳 India
$520
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Delhi and in Cebu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Delhi and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $520 in Delhi versus $934 in Cebu.

  • Delhi $520
  • Cebu $934

Estimated couple costs with rent: $858 in Delhi versus $1,415 in Cebu.

  • Delhi $858
  • Cebu $1,415

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,195 in Delhi versus $1,896 in Cebu.

  • Delhi $1,195
  • Cebu $1,896

Living in Delhi costs roughly 44% less than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Delhi 61% lower, Cebu 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Delhi
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.67 ₹355
$3.03 ₱191
21.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.95 ₹2,027
$23.48 ₱1,476
-10.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.74 ₹362
$4.09 ₱257
-8.56%
Cappuccino
$2.33 ₹226
$2.52 ₱158
-7.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₹35.82
$1.54 ₱97.2
-75.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 ₹18.91
$0.49 ₱31.06
-59.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 ₹195
$1.79 ₱113
12.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 ₹308
$2.26 ₱142
41.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Delhi
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.68 ₹65.9
$1.95 ₱122
-65.13%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹50.2
$1.43 ₱89.9
-63.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.83 ₹80.0
$1.02 ₱64.0
-18.63%
Eggs
$1.07 ₹104
$2.06 ₱129
-48.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.43 ₹428
$9.81 ₱617
-54.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.37 ₹326
$4.61 ₱290
-26.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$7.70 ₱484
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.99 ₹192
$3.31 ₱208
-39.88%
Banana (1kg)
$0.72 ₹70.1
$1.45 ₱91.2
-50.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 ₹98.4
$2.36 ₱148
-56.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.52 ₹50.1
$1.54 ₱96.6
-66.23%
Potato (1kg)
$0.27 ₹25.96
$2.36 ₱148
-88.56%
Onion (1kg)
$0.37 ₹35.42
$1.99 ₱125
-81.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 ₹41.64
$1.15 ₱72.3
-62.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₹30.39
$0.67 ₱42.26
-53.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.92 ₹476
$3.00 ₱189
64.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.34 ₹808
$6.35 ₱399
31.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 ₹159
$1.31 ₱82.1
25.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 ₹261
$1.73 ₱109
56.07%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.15 ₹596
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Delhi
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.46 ₹44.04
$0.25 ₱15.82
84.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.29 ₹1,480
$12.65 ₱796
20.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 ₹99.8
$0.74 ₱46.44
39.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ₹26.38
$0.21 ₱13.15
28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 ₹148
$4.33 ₱272
-64.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 ₹102
$1.33 ₱83.7
-21.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$10.5K ₹1.0M
$21.8K ₱1.4M
-51.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.4K ₹1.8M
$19.4K ₱1.2M
-5.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delhi
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$42.67 ₹4,129
$121 ₱7,583
-64.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.04 ₹391
$14.45 ₱909
-72.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.75 ₹653
$28.29 ₱1,779
-76.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Delhi
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.40 ₹1,878
$32.68 ₱2,055
-40.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.06 ₹780
$6.39 ₱402
26.13%
Cinema Ticket
$5.08 ₹492
$5.46 ₱343
-6.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Delhi
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$100 ₹9,696
$273 ₱17.2K
-63.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,268 ₹219.5K
$8,156 ₱512.9K
-72.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Delhi
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.14 ₹2,336
$49.57 ₱3,117
-51.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.38 ₹2,747
$24.87 ₱1,564
14.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$53.3 ₹5,160
$76.6 ₱4,817
-30.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$44.13 ₹4,271
$59.3 ₱3,727
-25.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Delhi
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$264 ₹25.5K
$506 ₱31.8K
-47.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$154 ₹14.9K
$309 ₱19.5K
-50.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$736 ₹71.2K
$1,052 ₱66.1K
-30.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$397 ₹38.5K
$619 ₱38.9K
-35.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,494 ₹241.4K
$2,915 ₱183.4K
-14.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,017 ₹98.4K
$1,867 ₱117.4K
-45.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Delhi
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$585 ₹56.7K
$341 ₱21.5K
71.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.33
7.2
15.69%

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

Last update for Delhi: October 6, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Delhi
$154
Cebu
$309 101% $155
Groceries & Markets
Delhi
$108
Cebu
$210 94.9% $102
Eating Out
Delhi
$87
Cebu
$88 1.2% $1.1
Clothing & Footwear
Delhi
$67
Cebu
$95 40.2% $27
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delhi
$53
Cebu
$163 206% $110
Sport & Entertainment
Delhi
$30
Cebu
$44 47.4% $14
Getting Around
Delhi
$20
Cebu
$15 20.9% $4.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $264 in Delhi and $506 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Delhi pays 72% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $21.00 in Delhi vs $23.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $108 vs $210 per month, with Delhi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇳 Delhi
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
07:09 7:09 AM
09:39 9:39 AM
2 h 30 min ahead of Delhi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
16,787,941 Capital
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to INR – Indian Rupee Converter

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 96.78 INR (100 INR = 1.03 USD). 1 EUR = 109 INR (1,000 INR = 9.21 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.89 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.54 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Delhi Cebu 5,260 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Delhi
  • Cebu

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
Delhi vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Delhi?
Delhi is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 80% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Delhi or Cebu?
Average pay runs 72% higher in Delhi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Delhi and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $264 in Delhi versus $506 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Delhi and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $520 per month in Delhi versus $934 in Cebu – a 80% 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 Delhi runs roughly 21% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,200 enough for either Delhi or Cebu?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Delhi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Delhi or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Delhi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cebu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Delhi or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Delhi and Cebu 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 Delhi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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