Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisse and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $2,540 in Lisse, rent and utilities included – about $19,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisse
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,540
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisse and in Cebu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisse and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,540 in Lisse versus $918 in Cebu.

  • Lisse $2,540
  • Cebu $918

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,792 in Lisse versus $1,409 in Cebu.

  • Lisse $3,792
  • Cebu $1,409

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,045 in Lisse versus $1,900 in Cebu.

  • Lisse $5,045
  • Cebu $1,900

Living in Lisse is roughly 177% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisse is 88% above, Cebu is 32% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisse
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.46 €19.98
$3.09 ₱194
626.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.1 €80.2
$24.22 ₱1,525
272.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.19 €9.06
$3.92 ₱247
159.95%
Cappuccino
$3.67 €3.27
$2.51 ₱158
46.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 €2.97
$1.59 ₱100
110.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 €2.48
$0.53 ₱33.43
426.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.69 €5.95
$1.78 ₱112
275.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 €3.76
$2.17 ₱137
94.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisse
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 €1.34
$1.92 ₱121
-21.87%
White Bread (500g)
$2.32 €2.06
$1.36 ₱85.4
70.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.50 €2.23
$1.01 ₱63.5
147.52%
Eggs
$4.53 €4.03
$2.03 ₱128
123.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.77 €13.14
$9.86 ₱621
49.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.84 €11.42
$4.39 ₱277
192.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.63 €17.46
$7.60 ₱479
158.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 €2.37
$3.30 ₱208
-19.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 €2.00
$1.39 ₱87.8
61.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 €1.75
$2.33 ₱147
-15.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.70 €3.29
$1.50 ₱94.3
146.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 €1.18
$2.36 ₱149
-43.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.32 €1.18
$1.90 ₱119
-30.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.19 ₱74.9
-5.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.83
$0.63 ₱39.71
49.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.44 €12.85
$3.00 ₱189
381.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.82 €5.17
$6.03 ₱379
-3.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 €1.16
$1.23 ₱77.7
5.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 €1.70
$1.75 ₱110
9.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisse
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.38 €3.00
$0.25 ₱15.86
1252.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.4 €81.3
$12.64 ₱796
623.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 €4.23
$0.77 ₱48.62
518.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.34 €2.97
$0.23 ₱14.53
1352.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.18 €29.51
$4.46 ₱281
643.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.53 €2.25
$1.31 ₱82.8
93.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.0K €37.3K
$21.2K ₱1.3M
97.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K €35.4K
$19.1K ₱1.2M
107.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisse
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$279 €248
$120 ₱7,569
132.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.42 €25.28
$14.00 ₱882
103.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.2 €48.21
$27.54 ₱1,734
96.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisse
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.22 €36.66
$32.33 ₱2,035
27.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.89 €21.25
$6.65 ₱419
259.25%
Cinema Ticket
$16.90 €15.03
$5.65 ₱356
199.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisse
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,468 €2,195
$275 ₱17.3K
796.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K €10.7K
$7,918 ₱498.5K
51.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisse
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.0 €86.3
$49.33 ₱3,106
96.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.68 €37.97
$25.24 ₱1,589
69.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 €94.6
$77.0 ₱4,846
38.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 €122
$57.2 ₱3,601
140.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisse
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,426 €1,269
$500 ₱31.5K
185.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,152 €1,025
$309 ₱19.4K
272.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,412 €2,145
$1,078 ₱67.9K
123.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,947 €1,732
$615 ₱38.7K
216.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,445 €4,843
$2,886 ₱181.7K
88.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,367 €3,884
$1,917 ₱120.7K
127.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisse
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$346 ₱21.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.4
7.2
-52.78%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisse: October 11, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisse
$1.2K
Cebu
$309 73.2% $843
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisse
$362
Cebu
$162 55.3% $200
Groceries & Markets
Lisse
$331
Cebu
$206 37.9% $125
Eating Out
Lisse
$321
Cebu
$88 72.5% $233
Clothing & Footwear
Lisse
$173
Cebu
$94 45.6% $79
Getting Around
Lisse
$126
Cebu
$16 87.7% $111
Sport & Entertainment
Lisse
$75
Cebu
$44 41.8% $31

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,426 in Lisse and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $90.0 in Lisse vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $331 vs $206 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇱 Lisse
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
07:47 7:47 AM
13:47 1:47 PM
6 h ahead of Lisse
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
22,995
964,169
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisse Cebu 10,990 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisse
  • Cebu

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
Lisse vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Lisse?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 177% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,810 in Lisse and $1,377 in Cebu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Lisse and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,426 in Lisse 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 Lisse and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $2,540 per month in Lisse versus $918 in Cebu – a 177% 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 623% less than in Lisse. 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 Lisse or in Cebu?
At $918 in Cebu versus $2,540 in Lisse, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Lisse. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisse or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisse, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisse or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Lisse 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 177% less than in Lisse. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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