For one person, living is cheaper in El Kef: $610 a month against $918 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 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 El Kef and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $610 in El Kef versus $918 in Cebu.
El Kef $610
Cebu $918
Estimated couple costs with rent: $959 in El Kef versus $1,409 in Cebu.
El Kef $959
Cebu $1,409
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,308 in El Kef versus $1,900 in Cebu.
El Kef $1,308
Cebu $1,900
🌍
Living in El Kef costs roughly 34% less than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: El Kef55% lower, Cebu32% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
El Kef
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.34TND 15.99
$3.09₱194
72.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.49TND 40.39
$24.22₱1,525
-44.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.55TND 13.63
$3.92₱247
16.07%
Cappuccino
$0.65TND 1.94
$2.51₱158
-74.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52TND 1.55
$1.59₱100
-67.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24TND 0.72
$0.53₱33.43
-54.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.88TND 2.65
$1.78₱112
-50.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98TND 2.92
$2.17₱137
-54.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Kef
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.46TND 1.39
$1.92₱121
-76.04%
White Bread(500g)
$0.20TND 0.60
$1.36₱85.4
-85.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78TND 5.34
$1.01₱63.5
76.24%
Eggs
$1.44TND 4.30
$2.03₱128
-29.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.02TND 45.00
$9.86₱621
52.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.41TND 19.20
$4.39₱277
46.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.67TND 43.94
$7.60₱479
93.03%
Apples(1kg)
$1.59TND 4.76
$3.30₱208
-51.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69TND 5.06
$1.39₱87.8
21.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.02TND 3.06
$2.33₱147
-56.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57TND 1.72
$1.50₱94.3
-62.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38TND 1.14
$2.36₱149
-83.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.19TND 0.56
$1.90₱119
-90.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45TND 1.36
$1.19₱74.9
-62.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29TND 0.86
$0.63₱39.71
-53.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45TND 10.32
$3.00₱189
15.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.33TND 12.98
$6.03₱379
-28.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.70TND 2.11
$1.23₱77.7
-43.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93TND 2.77
$1.75₱110
-46.86%
🚌 Getting Around
El Kef
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32TND 0.95
$0.25₱15.86
28.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.99TND 29.93
$12.64₱796
-20.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31TND 0.94
$0.77₱48.62
-59.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29TND 0.87
$0.23₱14.53
26.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.96TND 11.87
$4.46₱281
-11.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83TND 2.49
$1.31₱82.8
-36.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8KTND 116.3K
$21.2K₱1.3M
82.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7KTND 109.8K
$19.1K₱1.2M
91.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Kef
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$26.87TND 80.5
$120₱7,569
-77.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.57TND 31.65
$14.00₱882
-24.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.92TND 41.70
$27.54₱1,734
-49.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Kef
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.30TND 81.8
$32.33₱2,035
-15.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.16TND 36.42
$6.65₱419
82.86%
Cinema Ticket
$3.36TND 10.05
$5.65₱356
-40.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Kef
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$61.2TND 183
$275₱17.3K
-77.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,972TND 5,905
$7,918₱498.5K
-75.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Kef
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.11TND 69.2
$49.33₱3,106
-53.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.0TND 204
$25.24₱1,589
169.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$39.88TND 119
$77.0₱4,846
-48.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.3TND 234
$57.2₱3,601
36.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Kef
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$208TND 624
$500₱31.5K
-58.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$157TND 470
$309₱19.4K
-49.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$365TND 1,093
$1,078₱67.9K
-66.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$269TND 804
$615₱38.7K
-56.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$939TND 2,813
$2,886₱181.7K
-67.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$628TND 1,880
$1,917₱120.7K
-67.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Kef
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$168TND 504
$346₱21.8K
-51.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
7.2
52.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for El Kef: October 11, 2026
Last update for Cebu: October 12, 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.
🛒Groceries & Markets
El Kef
$187 30.6%
Cebu
$206 22.4% ↑ 10.4%$19
🏠Accommodation & Living
El Kef
$157 25.7%
Cebu
$309 33.6% ↑ 96.8%$152
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
El Kef
$94 15.5%
Cebu
$94 10.2% ↓ 0.2%$0.2
🍽Eating Out
El Kef
$74 12.1%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↑ 20%$15
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Kef
$51 8.4%
Cebu
$162 17.6% ↑ 215%$110
🎉Sport & Entertainment
El Kef
$34 5.6%
Cebu
$44 4.8% ↑ 28.3%$9.6
🚌Getting Around
El Kef
$13 2.1%
Cebu
$16 1.7% ↑ 19.6%$2.6
🛒Groceries & Markets
El Kef
$444 34%
Cebu
$483 25.4% ↑ 8.6%$38
🏠Accommodation & Living
El Kef
$269 20.5%
Cebu
$615 32.4% ↑ 129%$347
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
El Kef
$209 16%
Cebu
$209 11% ↓ 0.2%$0.5
🍽Eating Out
El Kef
$217 16.6%
Cebu
$292 15.4% ↑ 34.4%$75
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Kef
$62 4.7%
Cebu
$176 9.3% ↑ 184%$114
🎉Sport & Entertainment
El Kef
$80 6.1%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↑ 17.1%$14
🚌Getting Around
El Kef
$27 2%
Cebu
$32 1.7% ↑ 18.6%$5
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $208 in El Kef and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cebu pays 105% 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: $13.00 in El Kef vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $206 per month, with El Kef 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
El Kef vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than El Kef?
El Kef is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: El Kef or Cebu?
On paper, salaries run 105% lower in Cebu. 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 El Kef and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $208 in El Kef versus $500 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in El Kef and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $610 per month in El Kef versus $918 in Cebu – a 51% 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 El Kef runs roughly 27% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either El Kef or Cebu?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though El Kef gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is El Kef or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, El Kef 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, El Kef or Cebu?
Safety-wise, El Kef 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 El Kef gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.