Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Galati and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $1,060 in Galati, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Galati
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,060
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Galati 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 Galati and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,060 in Galati versus $934 in Cebu.

  • Galati $1,060
  • Cebu $934

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,604 in Galati versus $1,415 in Cebu.

  • Galati $1,604
  • Cebu $1,415

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,148 in Galati versus $1,896 in Cebu.

  • Galati $2,148
  • Cebu $1,896

Living in Galati is roughly 14% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Galati 21% lower, Cebu 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Galati
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.30 RON 48.72
$3.03 ₱190
239.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.07 RON 199
$23.48 ₱1,473
79.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.17 RON 33.90
$4.09 ₱256
75.31%
Cappuccino
$2.53 RON 11.97
$2.52 ₱158
0.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 RON 10.06
$1.54 ₱96.9
38.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 RON 8.62
$0.49 ₱30.98
271.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.11 RON 9.99
$1.79 ₱112
17.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 RON 15.15
$2.26 ₱142
41.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Galati
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 RON 5.87
$1.95 ₱122
-36.41%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 RON 3.13
$1.43 ₱89.7
-53.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 RON 8.21
$1.02 ₱63.8
70.59%
Eggs
$3.49 RON 16.51
$2.06 ₱129
69.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.76 RON 36.69
$9.81 ₱615
-20.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 RON 27.79
$4.61 ₱289
27.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.53 RON 40.33
$7.70 ₱483
10.78%
Apples (1kg)
$1.32 RON 6.25
$3.31 ₱207
-60.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 RON 7.80
$1.45 ₱90.9
13.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 RON 7.42
$2.36 ₱148
-33.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.78 RON 8.42
$1.54 ₱96.4
15.58%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 RON 4.56
$2.36 ₱148
-59.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 RON 4.82
$1.99 ₱125
-48.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 RON 3.80
$1.15 ₱72.1
-30.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 RON 3.16
$0.67 ₱42.15
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.79 RON 27.40
$3.00 ₱188
93.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.29 RON 25.03
$6.35 ₱398
-16.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 RON 4.51
$1.31 ₱81.9
-27.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 RON 5.65
$1.73 ₱108
-31.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Galati
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 RON 3.56
$0.25 ₱15.78
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.50 RON 116
$12.65 ₱793
93.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.62 RON 2.92
$0.74 ₱46.32
-16.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 RON 3.32
$0.21 ₱13.11
233.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.94 RON 32.83
$4.33 ₱271
60.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 RON 8.31
$1.33 ₱83.5
32.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K RON 133.8K
$21.8K ₱1.4M
29.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K RON 118.2K
$19.4K ₱1.2M
28.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Galati
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 RON 714
$121 ₱7,563
25.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.58 RON 35.87
$14.45 ₱907
-47.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.84 RON 37.11
$28.29 ₱1,774
-72.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Galati
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.52 RON 182
$32.68 ₱2,050
17.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.79 RON 165
$6.39 ₱401
444.44%
Cinema Ticket
$6.14 RON 29.04
$5.46 ₱342
12.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Galati
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$587 RON 2,777
$273 ₱17.1K
114.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,028 RON 23.8K
$8,156 ₱511.5K
-38.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Galati
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.2 RON 460
$49.57 ₱3,109
96.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.64 RON 150
$24.87 ₱1,560
27.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.8 RON 292
$76.6 ₱4,804
-19.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.6 RON 400
$59.3 ₱3,717
42.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Galati
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$381 RON 1,800
$506 ₱31.7K
-24.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$323 RON 1,526
$309 ₱19.4K
4.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$783 RON 3,705
$1,052 ₱66.0K
-25.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$571 RON 2,703
$619 ₱38.8K
-7.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,622 RON 7,672
$2,915 ₱182.9K
-44.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,250 RON 5,914
$1,867 ₱117.1K
-33.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Galati
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$903 RON 4,270
$341 ₱21.4K
164.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
7.2
-

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

Last update for Galati: October 4, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Galati
$323
Cebu
$309 4.1% $13
Groceries & Markets
Galati
$184
Cebu
$210 14.5% $27
Eating Out
Galati
$167
Cebu
$88 47.1% $79
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Galati
$166
Cebu
$163 1.8% $3
Clothing & Footwear
Galati
$124
Cebu
$95 23.6% $29
Sport & Entertainment
Galati
$51
Cebu
$44 14.2% $7.2
Getting Around
Galati
$32
Cebu
$15 51.2% $16

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $381 in Galati and $506 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Galati pays 165% 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: $42.00 in Galati vs $23.00 in Cebu. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $210, with Galati cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇷🇴 Galati
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
10:28 10:28 AM
15:28 3:28 PM
5 h ahead of Galati
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
249,432
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to RON – Romanian Leu Converter

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.3 RON (1 RON = 0.189 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.35 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Galati Cebu 9,640 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Galati
  • 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
Galati vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Galati?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and leisure. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Galati or Cebu?
Average pay runs 165% higher in Galati, 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 Galati and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $381 in Galati 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 Galati and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $1,060 per month in Galati versus $934 in Cebu – a 14% 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 94% less than in Galati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Galati or Cebu?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Cebu gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Galati or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Galati, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Galati or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Galati 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 Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Galati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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