For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $1,777 in Lund, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 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 Lund and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,777 in Lund versus $934 in Cebu.
Lund $1,777
Cebu $934
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,922 in Lund versus $1,415 in Cebu.
Lund $2,922
Cebu $1,415
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,067 in Lund versus $1,896 in Cebu.
Lund $4,067
Cebu $1,896
🌍
Living in Lund is roughly 90% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Lund is 33% above, Cebu is 30% below.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Lund
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.72SEK 127
$3.03₱190
319.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.0SEK 909
$23.48₱1,473
287.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.72SEK 117
$4.09₱256
186.55%
Cappuccino
$4.60SEK 46.01
$2.52₱158
82.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79SEK 27.88
$1.54₱96.9
81.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07SEK 20.65
$0.49₱30.98
322.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.18SEK 81.7
$1.79₱112
356.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79SEK 67.9
$2.26₱142
200.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lund
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63SEK 16.28
$1.95₱122
-16.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.55SEK 25.47
$1.43₱89.7
78.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.38SEK 33.74
$1.02₱63.8
231.37%
Eggs
$4.57SEK 45.63
$2.06₱129
121.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.53SEK 125
$9.81₱615
27.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.84SEK 118
$4.61₱289
156.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.33SEK 153
$7.70₱483
99.09%
Apples(1kg)
$3.06SEK 30.63
$3.31₱207
-7.55%
Banana(1kg)
$2.58SEK 25.82
$1.45₱90.9
77.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83SEK 28.26
$2.36₱148
19.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.68SEK 46.78
$1.54₱96.4
203.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70SEK 16.98
$2.36₱148
-27.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43SEK 14.25
$1.99₱125
-28.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.55SEK 25.50
$1.15₱72.1
121.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52SEK 15.20
$0.67₱42.15
126.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.10SEK 81.0
$3.00₱188
170.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.15SEK 111
$6.35₱398
75.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85SEK 18.50
$1.31₱81.9
41.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73SEK 27.27
$1.73₱108
57.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Lund
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.28SEK 32.79
$0.25₱15.78
1212.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.3SEK 632
$12.65₱793
400.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.08SEK 50.7
$0.74₱46.32
586.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10SEK 11.02
$0.21₱13.11
423.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.40SEK 414
$4.33₱271
856.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80SEK 17.97
$1.33₱83.5
35.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1KSEK 331.0K
$21.8K₱1.4M
52.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8KSEK 328.1K
$19.4K₱1.2M
69.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lund
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.4SEK 764
$121₱7,563
-36.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.05SEK 280
$14.45₱907
94.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.33SEK 413
$28.29₱1,774
46.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lund
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.07SEK 381
$32.68₱2,050
16.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.39SEK 274
$6.39₱401
328.64%
Cinema Ticket
$15.11SEK 151
$5.46₱342
176.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lund
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$157SEK 1,571
$273₱17.1K
-42.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$8,156₱511.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lund
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.5SEK 785
$49.57₱3,109
58.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.6SEK 566
$24.87₱1,560
127.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.7SEK 976
$76.6₱4,804
27.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121SEK 1,213
$59.3₱3,717
104.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lund
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826SEK 8,255
$506₱31.7K
63.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$672SEK 6,716
$309₱19.4K
117.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,697SEK 17.0K
$1,052₱66.0K
61.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,365SEK 13.6K
$619₱38.8K
120.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,116SEK 61.1K
$2,915₱182.9K
109.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,597SEK 35.9K
$1,867₱117.1K
92.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lund
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,871SEK 28.7K
$341₱21.4K
741.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.03
7.2
-57.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lund: October 5, 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
Lund
$672 38.3%
Cebu
$309 33.5% ↓ 54%$363
🛒Groceries & Markets
Lund
$355 20.3%
Cebu
$210 22.7% ↓ 40.8%$145
🍽Eating Out
Lund
$266 15.2%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↓ 66.8%$178
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Lund
$159 9.1%
Cebu
$95 10.2% ↓ 40.6%$65
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lund
$146 8.3%
Cebu
$163 17.7% ↑ 12%$18
🚌Getting Around
Lund
$87 5%
Cebu
$15 1.7% ↓ 82.2%$72
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Lund
$68 3.9%
Cebu
$44 4.7% ↓ 36.2%$25
🏠Accommodation & Living
Lund
$1.4K 33.8%
Cebu
$619 32.4% ↓ 54.6%$746
🛒Groceries & Markets
Lund
$822 20.4%
Cebu
$493 25.8% ↓ 40%$329
🍽Eating Out
Lund
$975 24.2%
Cebu
$288 15.1% ↓ 70.4%$686
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Lund
$354 8.8%
Cebu
$210 11% ↓ 40.6%$144
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lund
$174 4.3%
Cebu
$178 9.3% ↑ 2.3%$3.9
🚌Getting Around
Lund
$181 4.5%
Cebu
$31 1.6% ↓ 82.6%$149
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Lund
$164 4.1%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↓ 42.9%$70
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $826 in Lund and $506 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lund pays 742% 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: $91.0 in Lund vs $23.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $355 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
Lund vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Lund?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 90% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lund or Cebu?
Average pay runs 742% higher in Lund, 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 Lund and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $826 in Lund 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 Lund and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $1,777 per month in Lund versus $934 in Cebu – a 90% 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 400% less than in Lund. 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 Lund or in Cebu?
At $934 in Cebu versus $1,777 in Lund, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Lund. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lund or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lund, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lund or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Lund 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 90% less than in Lund. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.