😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,687 in Medina, OH versus $936 in Cebu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,646 in Medina, OH versus $1,427 in Cebu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,605 in Medina, OH versus $1,918 in Cebu.
🌍Living in Medina, OH is roughly 187% more expensive than in Cebu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medina, OH is 96% above, Cebu is 32% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medina, OH
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.04$18.04
$3.09₱193
483.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.9$61.9
$23.80₱1,488
160.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.05$13.05
$4.10₱257
218.29%
Cappuccino
$4.81$4.81
$2.60₱163
85.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$1.55₱96.9
35.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98$0.98
$0.54₱33.46
81.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.94$4.94
$1.73₱108
185.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.80$6.80
$2.19₱137
210.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medina, OH
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99$0.99
$1.92₱120
-48.44%
White Bread(500g)
$3.60$3.60
$1.39₱87.1
158.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.39$4.39
$0.97₱60.8
352.58%
Eggs
$3.89$3.89
$2.00₱125
94.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.96$8.96
$9.93₱621
-9.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.38$11.38
$4.38₱274
159.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.52$16.52
$7.41₱463
122.94%
Apples(1kg)
$5.05$5.05
$3.46₱217
45.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58$1.58
$1.47₱91.7
7.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.47$4.47
$2.41₱151
85.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.69$4.69
$1.54₱96.5
204.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33$1.33
$2.36₱148
-43.64%
Onion(1kg)
$3.02$3.02
$1.91₱119
58.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.31$2.31
$1.24₱77.3
86.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99$1.99
$0.66₱41.42
201.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.77$8.77
$3.00₱188
192.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.58$15.58
$6.08₱380
156.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47$1.47
$1.31₱81.8
12.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47$1.47
$1.73₱108
-15.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Medina, OH
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.25₱15.65
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$12.73₱796
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.97$2.97
$0.75₱46.78
296.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52$1.52
$0.23₱14.41
560.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.18$24.18
$4.60₱288
425.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03$1.03
$1.34₱83.7
-23.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K$35.4K
$21.8K₱1.4M
62.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K$26.7K
$19.4K₱1.2M
37.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medina, OH
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$215$215
$121₱7,564
77.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.0$59.0
$14.86₱929
296.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.8$68.8
$27.84₱1,741
146.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medina, OH
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.24$37.24
$32.06₱2,005
16.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.43₱402
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.85$11.85
$5.64₱352
110.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medina, OH
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,381$1,381
$273₱17.1K
405.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$32.3K$32.3K
$8,017₱501.3K
302.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medina, OH
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.1$56.1
$48.77₱3,050
14.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.30$41.30
$25.49₱1,594
62.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.6$97.6
$78.1₱4,884
25.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0$74.0
$57.8₱3,616
27.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medina, OH
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$970$970
$500₱31.3K
93.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,487$1,487
$300₱18.7K
396.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,455$1,455
$1,089₱68.1K
33.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$632₱39.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,888₱180.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,877₱117.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medina, OH
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$346₱21.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.94
7.2
-17.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medina, OH: August 29, 2026
Last update for Cebu: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $970 in Medina, OH and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $62.0 in Medina, OH vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $373 vs $208 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.
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
Medina, OH vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Medina, OH?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 187% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,030 in Medina, OH and $1,404 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 Medina, OH and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $970 in Medina, OH 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 Medina, OH and in Cebu?
Supermarket bills run roughly 79% higher in Medina, OH. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Medina, OH and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $2,687 per month in Medina, OH versus $936 in Cebu – a 187% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medina, OH or in Cebu?
At $936 in Cebu versus $2,687 in Medina, OH, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Medina, OH. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medina, OH or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medina, OH, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medina, OH or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Medina, OH 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 187% less than in Medina, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Medina, OH vs other spots: cost of living compared