Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Melun and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $915 a month against $1,687 in Melun, rent and utilities included – about $9,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Melun
🇫🇷 France
$1,687
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$915
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Melun 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 Melun and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Melun versus $915 in Cebu.

  • Melun $1,687
  • Cebu $915

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,511 in Melun versus $1,418 in Cebu.

  • Melun $2,511
  • Cebu $1,418

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,335 in Melun versus $1,921 in Cebu.

  • Melun $3,335
  • Cebu $1,921

Living in Melun is roughly 84% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Melun is 24% above, Cebu is 33% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Melun
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.73 €11.32
$3.05 ₱192
317.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1 €47.20
$24.00 ₱1,511
121.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.41 €11.93
$3.99 ₱251
236.09%
Cappuccino
$2.99 €2.66
$2.50 ₱157
19.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 €1.50
$1.54 ₱97.1
9.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 €1.54
$0.50 ₱31.37
246.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.44 €6.62
$1.78 ₱112
317.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.63 €5.00
$2.17 ₱136
159.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Melun
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 €1.17
$2.00 ₱126
-34.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 €1.68
$1.37 ₱86.2
37.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.86 €2.54
$1.03 ₱64.9
177.67%
Eggs
$4.17 €3.70
$2.03 ₱128
105.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.19 €18.85
$10.20 ₱642
107.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.88 €11.46
$4.45 ₱280
189.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.95 €20.41
$7.67 ₱483
199.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 €2.94
$3.31 ₱208
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.12 €1.88
$1.46 ₱91.8
45.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 €2.09
$2.32 ₱146
1.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.08 €2.74
$1.49 ₱94.0
106.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.62
$2.34 ₱147
-22.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 €1.77
$1.94 ₱122
2.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 €1.58
$1.16 ₱73.0
52.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 €0.56
$0.68 ₱42.89
-7.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.92 €12.38
$2.99 ₱188
365.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.20 €7.29
$6.24 ₱393
31.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46 €2.19
$1.23 ₱77.3
100.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27 €3.80
$1.73 ₱109
146.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Melun
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 €1.73
$0.23 ₱14.36
747.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.25 €42.03
$12.34 ₱777
282.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.21 €1.97
$0.79 ₱49.96
179.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.16 €1.92
$0.22 ₱13.86
881.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.81 €21.18
$4.54 ₱286
424.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.23 €1.98
$1.32 ₱82.9
68.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €30.3K
$21.0K ₱1.3M
62.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3K €30.5K
$19.4K ₱1.2M
76.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melun
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$197 €176
$119 ₱7,464
66.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.10 €13.43
$14.22 ₱896
6.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.14 €25.03
$27.47 ₱1,730
2.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Melun
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.17 €31.29
$32.31 ₱2,034
8.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.50 ₱409
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.97 €8.87
$5.40 ₱340
84.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melun
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$623 €554
$276 ₱17.4K
125.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,092 €7,197
$7,866 ₱495.3K
2.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Melun
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.6 €77.0
$49.37 ₱3,108
75.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.76 €36.25
$24.58 ₱1,548
65.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €92.1
$76.6 ₱4,825
35.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 €90.4
$58.9 ₱3,706
72.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melun
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$742 €660
$503 ₱31.7K
47.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$561 €499
$305 ₱19.2K
84.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,193 €1,061
$1,075 ₱67.7K
10.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$883 €785
$632 ₱39.8K
39.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,959 €3,522
$2,870 ₱180.7K
37.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,978 €2,649
$1,877 ₱118.2K
58.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Melun
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,499 €2,223
$336 ₱21.1K
643.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.92
7.2
-45.56%

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

Last update for Melun: October 19, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Melun
$561
Cebu
$305 45.7% $256
Groceries & Markets
Melun
$372
Cebu
$210 43.7% $163
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melun
$241
Cebu
$160 33.4% $80
Eating Out
Melun
$240
Cebu
$88 63.5% $152
Clothing & Footwear
Melun
$150
Cebu
$94 37% $55
Getting Around
Melun
$68
Cebu
$15 77.7% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Melun
$55
Cebu
$43 21.8% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $742 in Melun and $503 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Melun pays 644% 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: $53.0 in Melun vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 vs $210 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇫🇷 Melun
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
07:56 7:56 AM
13:56 1:56 PM
6 h ahead of Melun
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
42,367
964,169
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 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
  • Melun Cebu 11,320 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Melun
  • 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
Melun vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Melun?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Melun or Cebu?
Average pay runs 644% higher in Melun, 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 Melun and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $742 in Melun versus $503 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Melun and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $1,687 per month in Melun versus $915 in Cebu – a 84% 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 283% less than in Melun. 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 Melun or in Cebu?
At $915 in Cebu versus $1,687 in Melun, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Melun. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Melun or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Melun, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Melun or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Melun 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 84% less than in Melun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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