For one person, living is cheaper in Khoy: $349 a month against $918 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 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 Khoy and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $349 in Khoy versus $918 in Cebu.
Khoy $349
Cebu $918
Estimated couple costs with rent: $713 in Khoy versus $1,409 in Cebu.
Khoy $713
Cebu $1,409
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,078 in Khoy versus $1,900 in Cebu.
Khoy $1,078
Cebu $1,900
🌍
Living in Khoy costs roughly 62% less than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Khoy74% lower, Cebu32% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Khoy
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.83$1.83
$3.09₱194
-40.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.03$16.03
$24.22₱1,525
-33.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.38$4.38
$3.92₱247
11.73%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.68$0.68
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11$1.11
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.09$1.09
$2.51₱158
-56.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48$0.48
$1.59₱100
-69.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96$0.96
$0.53₱33.43
81.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.78₱112
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.17₱137
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khoy
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.64$0.64
$1.92₱121
-66.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.49$0.49
$1.36₱85.4
-63.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.08$2.08
$1.01₱63.5
105.94%
Eggs
$1.23$1.23
$2.03₱128
-39.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.50$4.50
$9.86₱621
-54.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.45$3.45
$4.39₱277
-21.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.03$10.03
$7.60₱479
31.97%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01$1.01
$3.30₱208
-69.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41$1.41
$1.39₱87.8
1.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12$1.12
$2.33₱147
-51.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.63$0.63
$1.50₱94.3
-58.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55$0.55
$2.36₱149
-76.69%
Onion(1kg)
$0.61$0.61
$1.90₱119
-67.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.54$0.54
$1.19₱74.9
-54.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27$0.27
$0.63₱39.71
-57.14%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.81$0.81
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.54$0.54
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51$1.51
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.46$2.46
$3.00₱189
-18.00%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$6.03₱379
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.23₱77.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.75₱110
-
🚌 Getting Around
Khoy
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.14$0.14
$0.25₱15.86
-44.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.53$9.53
$12.64₱796
-24.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.35$0.35
$0.77₱48.62
-54.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32$0.32
$0.23₱14.53
39.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.74$2.74
$4.46₱281
-38.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.10$0.10
$1.31₱82.8
-92.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K$50.8K
$21.2K₱1.3M
139.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.7K$43.7K
$19.1K₱1.2M
128.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khoy
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$13.17$13.17
$120₱7,569
-89.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.15$2.15
$14.00₱882
-84.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$3.73$3.73
$27.54₱1,734
-86.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khoy
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.35$18.35
$32.33₱2,035
-43.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.29$14.29
$6.65₱419
114.89%
Cinema Ticket
$1.99$1.99
$5.65₱356
-64.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khoy
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.6$94.6
$275₱17.3K
-65.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,250$2,250
$7,918₱498.5K
-71.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khoy
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.83$22.83
$49.33₱3,106
-53.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.20$28.20
$25.24₱1,589
11.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8$85.8
$77.0₱4,846
11.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.23$27.23
$57.2₱3,601
-52.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khoy
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$92.0$92.0
$500₱31.5K
-81.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$60.2$60.2
$309₱19.4K
-80.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801$801
$1,078₱67.9K
-25.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$358$358
$615₱38.7K
-41.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,154$1,154
$2,886₱181.7K
-60.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$527$527
$1,917₱120.7K
-72.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khoy
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$213$213
$346₱21.8K
-38.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
24.3
7.2
237.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Khoy: October 10, 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
Khoy
$115 32.9%
Cebu
$206 22.4% ↑ 79.3%$91
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Khoy
$74 21.2%
Cebu
$94 10.2% ↑ 27.2%$20
🏠Accommodation & Living
Khoy
$60 17.3%
Cebu
$309 33.6% ↑ 413%$249
🍽Eating Out
Khoy
$47 13.4%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↑ 89.3%$42
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Khoy
$22 6.4%
Cebu
$44 4.8% ↑ 95.4%$21
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khoy
$19 5.5%
Cebu
$162 17.6% ↑ 750%$143
🚌Getting Around
Khoy
$12 3.5%
Cebu
$16 1.7% ↑ 29.2%$3.5
🛒Groceries & Markets
Khoy
$282 26.1%
Cebu
$483 25.4% ↑ 71.5%$201
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Khoy
$164 15.2%
Cebu
$209 11% ↑ 27.2%$45
🏠Accommodation & Living
Khoy
$358 33.2%
Cebu
$615 32.4% ↑ 71.9%$257
🍽Eating Out
Khoy
$170 15.8%
Cebu
$292 15.4% ↑ 72%$122
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Khoy
$59 5.5%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↑ 59.3%$35
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khoy
$21 2%
Cebu
$176 9.3% ↑ 730%$155
🚌Getting Around
Khoy
$24 2.3%
Cebu
$32 1.7% ↑ 29.7%$7.3
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $92.0 in Khoy and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cebu pays 63% 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: $16.00 in Khoy vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $115 vs $206 per month, with Khoy cheaper across the board.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Khoy vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Khoy?
Khoy is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 163% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Khoy or Cebu?
On paper, salaries run 63% 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 Khoy and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $92.0 in Khoy 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 Khoy and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $349 per month in Khoy versus $918 in Cebu – a 163% 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 Khoy runs roughly 33% 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 Khoy or Cebu?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Khoy gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Khoy or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Khoy 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, Khoy or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Khoy 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 Khoy gentler on the wallet – expenses run 163% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.