For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $1,206 in Horta, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. The total is higher in Horta 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 Horta and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,206 in Horta versus $934 in Cebu.
Horta $1,206
Cebu $934
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,787 in Horta versus $1,415 in Cebu.
Horta $1,787
Cebu $1,415
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,367 in Horta versus $1,896 in Cebu.
Horta $2,367
Cebu $1,896
🌍
Living in Horta is roughly 29% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Horta10% lower, Cebu30% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Horta
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.99€7.13
$3.03₱190
163.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.09€27.74
$23.48₱1,473
32.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29€7.40
$4.09₱256
102.69%
Cappuccino
$2.25€2.01
$2.52₱158
-10.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91€1.71
$1.54₱96.9
24.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.24
$0.49₱30.98
183.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.76€2.47
$1.79₱112
54.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35€2.99
$2.26₱142
48.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Horta
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07€0.96
$1.95₱122
-45.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47€1.31
$1.43₱89.7
2.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60€1.43
$1.02₱63.8
56.86%
Eggs
$4.37€3.90
$2.06₱129
112.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.77€9.61
$9.81₱615
9.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.72€6.89
$4.61₱289
67.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.12€13.49
$7.70₱483
96.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.06€1.83
$3.31₱207
-37.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34€1.19
$1.45₱90.9
-7.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87€1.67
$2.36₱148
-20.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.86€2.55
$1.54₱96.4
85.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85€1.65
$2.36₱148
-21.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.91€1.71
$1.99₱125
-4.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53€1.36
$1.15₱72.1
33.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.75
$0.67₱42.15
23.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.34€4.77
$3.00₱188
78.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.64€5.03
$6.35₱398
-11.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21€1.08
$1.31₱81.9
-7.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10€1.88
$1.73₱108
21.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Horta
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98€1.77
$0.25₱15.78
692.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.47€36.12
$12.65₱793
219.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.16€3.71
$0.74₱46.32
462.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.93€0.83
$0.21₱13.11
342.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.81€15.89
$4.33₱271
311.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.42€2.16
$1.33₱83.5
81.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9K€29.3K
$21.8K₱1.4M
51.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K€31.9K
$19.4K₱1.2M
84.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Horta
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121€108
$121₱7,563
0.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.13€17.97
$14.45₱907
39.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.19€43.90
$28.29₱1,774
73.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Horta
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.92€42.77
$32.68₱2,050
46.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.59€14.80
$6.39₱401
159.62%
Cinema Ticket
$5.00€4.47
$5.46₱342
-8.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Horta
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$529€472
$273₱17.1K
93.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K€9,549
$8,156₱511.5K
31.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Horta
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.4€69.1
$49.57₱3,109
56.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.32€20.81
$24.87₱1,560
-6.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.2€48.39
$76.6₱4,804
-29.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104€93.1
$59.3₱3,717
76.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Horta
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$497€444
$506₱31.7K
-1.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394€352
$309₱19.4K
27.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$751€670
$1,052₱66.0K
-28.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653€583
$619₱38.8K
5.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,033€2,707
$2,915₱182.9K
4.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,276€2,031
$1,867₱117.1K
21.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Horta
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$966€862
$341₱21.4K
183.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.67
7.2
-49.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Horta: October 3, 2026
Last update for Cebu: October 5, 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
Horta
$394 32.4%
Cebu
$309 33.5% ↓ 21.5%$85
🛒Groceries & Markets
Horta
$253 20.7%
Cebu
$210 22.7% ↓ 16.7%$42
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Horta
$190 15.6%
Cebu
$163 17.7% ↓ 14.2%$27
🍽Eating Out
Horta
$150 12.3%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↓ 40.9%$61
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Horta
$117 9.6%
Cebu
$95 10.2% ↓ 18.9%$22
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Horta
$58 4.8%
Cebu
$44 4.7% ↓ 24.7%$14
🚌Getting Around
Horta
$57 4.7%
Cebu
$15 1.7% ↓ 73%$42
🏠Accommodation & Living
Horta
$653 26.9%
Cebu
$619 32.4% ↓ 5.2%$34
🛒Groceries & Markets
Horta
$601 24.8%
Cebu
$493 25.8% ↓ 17.9%$108
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Horta
$211 8.7%
Cebu
$178 9.3% ↓ 15.6%$33
🍽Eating Out
Horta
$450 18.6%
Cebu
$288 15.1% ↓ 35.9%$162
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Horta
$259 10.7%
Cebu
$210 11% ↓ 18.9%$49
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Horta
$132 5.5%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↓ 29.3%$39
🚌Getting Around
Horta
$118 4.9%
Cebu
$31 1.6% ↓ 73.5%$87
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $497 in Horta and $506 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Horta pays 183% 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: $31.00 in Horta vs $23.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $210 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
Horta vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Horta?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Horta or Cebu?
Average pay runs 183% higher in Horta, 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 Horta and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $497 in Horta 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 Horta and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $1,206 per month in Horta versus $934 in Cebu – a 29% 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 220% less than in Horta. 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 Horta or in Cebu?
At $934 in Cebu versus $1,206 in Horta, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Horta. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Horta or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Horta, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Horta or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Horta 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 29% less than in Horta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.