For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $1,477 in Kaunas, rent and utilities included – about $6,500 less a year. Other living expenses 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 Kaunas and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,477 in Kaunas versus $934 in Cebu.
Kaunas $1,477
Cebu $934
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,241 in Kaunas versus $1,415 in Cebu.
Kaunas $2,241
Cebu $1,415
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,005 in Kaunas versus $1,896 in Cebu.
Kaunas $3,005
Cebu $1,896
🌍
Living in Kaunas is roughly 58% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Kaunas is 10% above, Cebu is 30% below.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Kaunas
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.80€10.53
$3.03₱190
289.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€61.1
$23.48₱1,473
191.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.90€8.84
$4.09₱256
142.05%
Cappuccino
$3.46€3.08
$2.52₱158
37.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33€2.97
$1.54₱96.9
116.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22€2.87
$0.49₱30.98
557.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.07€4.52
$1.79₱112
183.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36€3.89
$2.26₱142
92.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kaunas
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57€1.40
$1.95₱122
-19.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.79€1.59
$1.43₱89.7
25.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.22€1.98
$1.02₱63.8
117.65%
Eggs
$3.36€3.00
$2.06₱129
63.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.71€13.13
$9.81₱615
49.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.13€7.25
$4.61₱289
76.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.60€12.14
$7.70₱483
76.62%
Apples(1kg)
$1.55€1.38
$3.31₱207
-53.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50€1.34
$1.45₱90.9
3.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17€1.94
$2.36₱148
-8.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.33€2.97
$1.54₱96.4
116.23%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94€0.84
$2.36₱148
-60.17%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98€0.87
$1.99₱125
-50.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.83€1.63
$1.15₱72.1
59.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96€0.86
$0.67₱42.15
43.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14€5.48
$3.00₱188
104.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.19€9.10
$6.35₱398
60.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.55
$1.31₱81.9
32.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11€1.89
$1.73₱108
21.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Kaunas
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.09€0.98
$0.25₱15.78
336.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.96€28.52
$12.65₱793
152.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14€1.02
$0.74₱46.32
54.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.87€0.77
$0.21₱13.11
314.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.71€14.02
$4.33₱271
262.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91€1.71
$1.33₱83.5
43.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K€24.0K
$21.8K₱1.4M
23.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8K€25.7K
$19.4K₱1.2M
48.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaunas
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$203€181
$121₱7,563
68.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.06€14.34
$14.45₱907
11.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.30€13.65
$28.29₱1,774
-45.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kaunas
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.92€29.38
$32.68₱2,050
0.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.67€25.59
$6.39₱401
348.67%
Cinema Ticket
$11.99€10.70
$5.46₱342
119.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kaunas
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$682€609
$273₱17.1K
149.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,760€7,818
$8,156₱511.5K
7.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kaunas
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.7€76.5
$49.57₱3,109
72.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.43€36.08
$24.87₱1,560
62.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121€108
$76.6₱4,804
58.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164€146
$59.3₱3,717
176.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kaunas
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$627€560
$506₱31.7K
23.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$438€391
$309₱19.4K
41.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$929€829
$1,052₱66.0K
-11.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$657€586
$619₱38.8K
6.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,679€3,283
$2,915₱182.9K
26.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,386€2,130
$1,867₱117.1K
27.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kaunas
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,696€1,513
$341₱21.4K
397.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.05
7.2
-43.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kaunas: October 6, 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
Kaunas
$438 30%
Cebu
$309 33.5% ↓ 29.3%$128
🛒Groceries & Markets
Kaunas
$280 19.2%
Cebu
$210 22.7% ↓ 25%$70
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaunas
$234 16%
Cebu
$163 17.7% ↓ 30.2%$71
🍽Eating Out
Kaunas
$226 15.5%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↓ 60.9%$137
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Kaunas
$185 12.7%
Cebu
$95 10.2% ↓ 48.8%$90
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Kaunas
$57 3.9%
Cebu
$44 4.7% ↓ 23.4%$13
🚌Getting Around
Kaunas
$42 2.9%
Cebu
$15 1.7% ↓ 63.1%$26
🏠Accommodation & Living
Kaunas
$657 22.1%
Cebu
$619 32.4% ↓ 5.8%$38
🛒Groceries & Markets
Kaunas
$646 21.7%
Cebu
$493 25.8% ↓ 23.7%$153
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaunas
$250 8.4%
Cebu
$178 9.3% ↓ 28.9%$72
🍽Eating Out
Kaunas
$784 26.4%
Cebu
$288 15.1% ↓ 63.2%$496
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Kaunas
$411 13.8%
Cebu
$210 11% ↓ 48.8%$201
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Kaunas
$142 4.8%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↓ 34.3%$49
🚌Getting Around
Kaunas
$86 2.9%
Cebu
$31 1.6% ↓ 63.4%$54
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $627 in Kaunas and $506 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kaunas pays 397% 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: $68.0 in Kaunas vs $23.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $280 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
Kaunas vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Kaunas?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 58% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kaunas or Cebu?
Average pay runs 397% higher in Kaunas, 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 Kaunas and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $627 in Kaunas 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 Kaunas and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $1,477 per month in Kaunas versus $934 in Cebu – a 58% 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 153% less than in Kaunas. 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 Kaunas or in Cebu?
At $934 in Cebu versus $1,477 in Kaunas, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Kaunas. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kaunas or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kaunas, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Kaunas or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Kaunas 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 58% less than in Kaunas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.