For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,235 in Koura, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 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 Koura and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,235 in Koura versus $918 in Cebu.
Koura $1,235
Cebu $918
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,937 in Koura versus $1,409 in Cebu.
Koura $1,937
Cebu $1,409
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,638 in Koura versus $1,900 in Cebu.
Koura $2,638
Cebu $1,900
🌍
Living in Koura is roughly 35% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Koura9% lower, Cebu32% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Koura
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.95LBP 1.1M
$3.09₱194
286.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5LBP 6.1M
$24.22₱1,525
182.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.07LBP 901.7K
$3.92₱247
156.89%
Cappuccino
$4.49LBP 402.1K
$2.51₱158
78.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31LBP 206.9K
$1.59₱100
45.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91LBP 81.4K
$0.53₱33.43
71.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.10LBP 456.2K
$1.78₱112
186.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74LBP 424.0K
$2.17₱137
118.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Koura
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.01LBP 180.3K
$1.92₱121
4.69%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85LBP 76.2K
$1.36₱85.4
-37.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.35LBP 210.3K
$1.01₱63.5
132.67%
Eggs
$3.65LBP 326.4K
$2.03₱128
79.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.91LBP 976.2K
$9.86₱621
10.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.48LBP 937.8K
$4.39₱277
138.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.72LBP 1.3M
$7.60₱479
93.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13LBP 280.0K
$3.30₱208
-5.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69LBP 151.7K
$1.39₱87.8
21.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62LBP 144.6K
$2.33₱147
-30.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.48LBP 132.8K
$1.50₱94.3
-1.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19LBP 106.8K
$2.36₱149
-49.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.61LBP 143.8K
$1.90₱119
-15.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21LBP 108.1K
$1.19₱74.9
1.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72LBP 64.6K
$0.63₱39.71
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92LBP 261.6K
$3.00₱189
-2.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.17LBP 999.9K
$6.03₱379
85.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28LBP 114.8K
$1.23₱77.7
4.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47LBP 221.0K
$1.75₱110
41.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Koura
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.95LBP 174.5K
$0.25₱15.86
680.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$12.64₱796
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.95LBP 442.7K
$0.77₱48.62
542.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.28LBP 203.7K
$0.23₱14.53
891.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.62LBP 2.0M
$4.46₱281
407.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.88LBP 79.0K
$1.31₱82.8
-32.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.4KLBP 4.9B
$21.2K₱1.3M
155.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8KLBP 2.9B
$19.1K₱1.2M
71.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koura
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$231LBP 20.7M
$120₱7,569
92.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.68LBP 1.9M
$14.00₱882
54.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.07LBP 3.4M
$27.54₱1,734
38.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Koura
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26LBP 2.3M
$32.33₱2,035
-21.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.87LBP 883.7K
$6.65₱419
48.42%
Cinema Ticket
$10.08LBP 902.5K
$5.65₱356
78.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koura
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$687LBP 61.5M
$275₱17.3K
149.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KLBP 942.7M
$7,918₱498.5K
33.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Koura
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.1LBP 6.1M
$49.33₱3,106
38.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.89LBP 4.4M
$25.24₱1,589
93.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139LBP 12.5M
$77.0₱4,846
81.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122LBP 10.9M
$57.2₱3,601
113.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koura
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$252LBP 22.5M
$500₱31.5K
-49.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$201LBP 18.0M
$309₱19.4K
-34.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$443LBP 39.7M
$1,078₱67.9K
-58.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$354LBP 31.6M
$615₱38.7K
-42.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,134LBP 101.5M
$2,886₱181.7K
-60.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$838LBP 75.0M
$1,917₱120.7K
-56.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Koura
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$606LBP 54.3M
$346₱21.8K
75.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
7.2
52.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Koura: October 13, 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.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koura
$291 23.6%
Cebu
$162 17.6% ↓ 44.4%$129
🛒Groceries & Markets
Koura
$276 22.3%
Cebu
$206 22.4% ↓ 25.3%$70
🍽Eating Out
Koura
$228 18.4%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↓ 61.2%$139
🏠Accommodation & Living
Koura
$201 16.3%
Cebu
$309 33.6% ↑ 53.5%$108
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Koura
$170 13.8%
Cebu
$94 10.2% ↓ 44.9%$76
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Koura
$45 3.7%
Cebu
$44 4.8% ↓ 4%$1.8
🚌Getting Around
Koura
$24 * 2%
Cebu
$16 1.7% ↓ 35.5%$8.6
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koura
$312 11.8%
Cebu
$176 9.3% ↓ 43.7%$137
🛒Groceries & Markets
Koura
$646 24.5%
Cebu
$483 25.4% ↓ 25.3%$163
🍽Eating Out
Koura
$795 30.1%
Cebu
$292 15.4% ↓ 63.3%$503
🏠Accommodation & Living
Koura
$354 13.4%
Cebu
$615 32.4% ↑ 74%$262
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Koura
$379 14.4%
Cebu
$209 11% ↓ 44.9%$170
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Koura
$101 3.8%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↓ 6.8%$6.8
🚌Getting Around
Koura
$52 * 2%
Cebu
$32 1.7% ↓ 39.3%$21
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $252 in Koura and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Koura pays 75% 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: $69.0 in Koura vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $206 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
Koura vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Koura?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Koura or Cebu?
Average pay runs 75% higher in Koura, 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 Koura and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $252 in Koura versus $500 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Koura and in Cebu?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Koura. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Koura and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $1,235 per month in Koura versus $918 in Cebu – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Koura or in Cebu?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,235 in Koura, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Koura. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Koura or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Koura, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Koura or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Koura 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 35% less than in Koura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.