For one person, living is cheaper in Hoi An: $874 a month against $918 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $530 less a year. The total is higher in Cebu despite lower rent and utilities.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hoi An and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $874 in Hoi An versus $918 in Cebu.
Hoi An $874
Cebu $918
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,270 in Hoi An versus $1,409 in Cebu.
Hoi An $1,270
Cebu $1,409
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,666 in Hoi An versus $1,900 in Cebu.
Hoi An $1,666
Cebu $1,900
🌍
Living in Hoi An costs roughly 5% less than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Hoi An35% lower, Cebu32% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Hoi An
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.33₫60.4K
$3.09₱195
-24.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43₫477.2K
$24.22₱1,525
-23.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.88₫100.3K
$3.92₱247
-1.02%
Cappuccino
$1.67₫43.3K
$2.51₱158
-33.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61₫15.9K
$1.59₱100
-61.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32₫8,163
$0.53₱33.45
-39.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.33₫34.3K
$1.78₱112
-25.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38₫35.8K
$2.17₱137
-36.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hoi An
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51₫39.2K
$1.92₱121
-21.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.20₫31.0K
$1.36₱85.5
-11.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.00₫25.9K
$1.01₱63.6
-0.99%
Eggs
$1.50₫38.9K
$2.03₱128
-26.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.85₫332.6K
$9.86₱621
30.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.15₫107.4K
$4.39₱277
-5.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.06₫234.6K
$7.60₱479
19.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68₫69.3K
$3.30₱208
-18.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11₫28.7K
$1.39₱87.8
-20.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.93₫24.2K
$2.33₱147
-60.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.41₫36.6K
$1.50₱94.3
-6.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13₫29.3K
$2.36₱149
-52.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02₫26.4K
$1.90₱119
-46.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67₫17.3K
$1.19₱74.9
-43.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53₫13.8K
$0.63₱39.73
-15.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.57₫40.7K
$3.00₱189
-47.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.53₫194.9K
$6.03₱380
24.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83₫21.6K
$1.23₱77.7
-32.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51₫39.0K
$1.75₱110
-13.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Hoi An
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22₫5,663
$0.25₱15.87
-12.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.96₫102.6K
$12.64₱796
-68.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.01₫26.0K
$0.77₱48.64
31.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56₫14.5K
$0.23₱14.54
143.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.84₫99.5K
$4.46₱281
-13.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94₫24.4K
$1.31₱82.8
-28.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1K₫805.1M
$21.2K₱1.3M
46.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K₫721.9M
$19.1K₱1.2M
45.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hoi An
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.3₫2.0M
$120₱7,573
-35.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.17₫159.7K
$14.00₱882
-55.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.99₫206.7K
$27.54₱1,735
-70.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hoi An
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.04₫441.1K
$32.33₱2,036
-47.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.93₫127.6K
$6.65₱419
-25.86%
Cinema Ticket
$3.03₫78.5K
$5.65₱356
-46.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hoi An
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$116₫3.0M
$275₱17.3K
-58.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.9K₫437.1M
$7,918₱498.8K
113.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hoi An
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.85₫1.2M
$49.33₱3,107
-7.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.13₫702.3K
$25.24₱1,590
7.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.6₫1.8M
$77.0₱4,848
-10.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.5₫2.1M
$57.2₱3,603
40.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hoi An
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$436₫11.3M
$500₱31.5K
-12.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$396₫10.3M
$309₱19.5K
28.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$538₫13.9M
$1,078₱67.9K
-50.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617₫16.0M
$615₱38.8K
0.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,546₫40.0M
$2,886₱181.8K
-46.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$964₫25.0M
$1,917₱120.7K
-49.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hoi An
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$294₫7.6M
$346₱21.8K
-15.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.34
7.2
43.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hoi An: October 12, 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.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Hoi An
$396 45.4%
Cebu
$309 33.6% ↓ 22.1%$87
🛒Groceries & Markets
Hoi An
$191 21.9%
Cebu
$206 22.4% ↑ 7.7%$15
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Hoi An
$100 11.4%
Cebu
$94 10.2% ↓ 6%$6
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hoi An
$91 10.5%
Cebu
$162 17.6% ↑ 77%$70
🍽Eating Out
Hoi An
$63 7.3%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↑ 39.1%$25
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Hoi An
$23 2.6%
Cebu
$44 4.8% ↑ 88.8%$21
🚌Getting Around
Hoi An
$8.6 1%
Cebu
$16 1.7% ↑ 80.2%$6.9
🏠Accommodation & Living
Hoi An
$617 37%
Cebu
$615 32.4% ↓ 0.3%$1.9
🛒Groceries & Markets
Hoi An
$445 26.7%
Cebu
$483 25.4% ↑ 8.4%$37
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Hoi An
$222 13.3%
Cebu
$209 11% ↓ 6%$13
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hoi An
$98 5.9%
Cebu
$176 9.3% ↑ 80.2%$78
🍽Eating Out
Hoi An
$215 12.9%
Cebu
$292 15.4% ↑ 35.6%$77
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Hoi An
$51 3.1%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↑ 83.7%$43
🚌Getting Around
Hoi An
$18 1.1%
Cebu
$32 1.7% ↑ 78.7%$14
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $436 in Hoi An and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cebu pays 18% 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: $18.00 in Hoi An vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $206 per month, with Hoi An 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
Hoi An vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Hoi An?
Hoi An is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Hoi An or Cebu?
On paper, salaries run 18% 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 Hoi An and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $436 in Hoi An 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 Hoi An and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $874 per month in Hoi An versus $918 in Cebu – a 5% 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 Hoi An runs roughly 219% 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 Hoi An or Cebu?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Hoi An gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Hoi An or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Hoi An 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, Hoi An or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Hoi An 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 Hoi An gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.