Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mendrisio and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $3,034 in Mendrisio, rent and utilities included – about $25,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Mendrisio
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,034
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,034 in Mendrisio versus $918 in Cebu.

  • Mendrisio $3,034
  • Cebu $918

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,758 in Mendrisio versus $1,409 in Cebu.

  • Mendrisio $3,758
  • Cebu $1,409

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,483 in Mendrisio versus $1,900 in Cebu.

  • Mendrisio $4,483
  • Cebu $1,900

Living in Mendrisio is roughly 231% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mendrisio is 125% above, Cebu is 32% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mendrisio
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$34.26 CHF 28.21
$3.09 ₱194
1008.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$177 CHF 146
$24.22 ₱1,525
630.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.99 CHF 15.64
$3.92 ₱247
384.44%
Cappuccino
$4.80 CHF 3.96
$2.51 ₱158
91.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.41 CHF 4.46
$1.59 ₱100
240.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 CHF 3.60
$0.53 ₱33.43
724.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.36 CHF 6.88
$1.78 ₱112
369.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.03 CHF 5.79
$2.17 ₱137
223.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mendrisio
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 CHF 1.80
$1.92 ₱121
13.54%
White Bread (500g)
$3.70 CHF 3.04
$1.36 ₱85.4
172.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.15 CHF 3.42
$1.01 ₱63.5
310.89%
Eggs
$7.07 CHF 5.83
$2.03 ₱128
248.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.44 CHF 20.95
$9.86 ₱621
158.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$28.11 CHF 23.15
$4.39 ₱277
540.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$39.04 CHF 32.15
$7.60 ₱479
413.68%
Apples (1kg)
$3.15 CHF 2.60
$3.30 ₱208
-4.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 CHF 1.40
$1.39 ₱87.8
22.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.56 CHF 2.11
$2.33 ₱147
9.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.49 CHF 5.35
$1.50 ₱94.3
332.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 CHF 1.52
$2.36 ₱149
-22.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.13 CHF 1.76
$1.90 ₱119
12.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 CHF 1.93
$1.19 ₱74.9
96.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 CHF 0.96
$0.63 ₱39.71
84.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.74 CHF 8.84
$3.00 ₱189
258.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.64 CHF 12.06
$6.03 ₱379
142.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.36 CHF 2.77
$1.23 ₱77.7
173.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08 CHF 3.36
$1.75 ₱110
133.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Mendrisio
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.03 CHF 2.50
$0.25 ₱15.86
1112.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$12.64 ₱796
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.07 CHF 5.82
$0.77 ₱48.62
818.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$5.38 CHF 4.43
$0.23 ₱14.53
2239.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$78.3 CHF 64.5
$4.46 ₱281
1655.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 CHF 1.81
$1.31 ₱82.8
67.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K CHF 28.5K
$21.2K ₱1.3M
62.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K CHF 31.8K
$19.1K ₱1.2M
101.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mendrisio
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$304 CHF 250
$120 ₱7,569
152.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.15 CHF 20.71
$14.00 ₱882
79.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.38 CHF 39.85
$27.54 ₱1,734
75.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mendrisio
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.1 CHF 60.2
$32.33 ₱2,035
126.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.65 ₱419
-
Cinema Ticket
$21.74 CHF 17.91
$5.65 ₱356
284.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mendrisio
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,187 CHF 2,625
$275 ₱17.3K
1057.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.5K CHF 31.7K
$7,918 ₱498.5K
385.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mendrisio
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107 CHF 87.8
$49.33 ₱3,106
116.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.52 CHF 39.14
$25.24 ₱1,589
88.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$164 CHF 135
$77.0 ₱4,846
113.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166 CHF 137
$57.2 ₱3,601
190.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mendrisio
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,381 CHF 1,137
$500 ₱31.5K
176.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,199 CHF 987
$309 ₱19.4K
288.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,078 ₱67.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$615 ₱38.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,886 ₱181.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,917 ₱120.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mendrisio
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,944 CHF 5,719
$346 ₱21.8K
1907.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.37
7.2
-67.08%

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

Last update for Mendrisio: 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
Mendrisio
$1.2K
Cebu
$309 74.2% $890
Groceries & Markets
Mendrisio
$594
Cebu
$206 65.3% $388
Eating Out
Mendrisio
$484
Cebu
$88 81.8% $395
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mendrisio
$377
Cebu
$162 57.1% $215
Clothing & Footwear
Mendrisio
$218
Cebu
$94 56.9% $124
Sport & Entertainment
Mendrisio
$117
Cebu
$44 62.6% $73
Getting Around
Mendrisio
$46 *
Cebu
$16 66.2% $31

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 $1,381 in Mendrisio and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mendrisio pays 1907% 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: $177 in Mendrisio vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $594 vs $206 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇭 Mendrisio
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
16:38 4:38 PM
22:38 10:38 PM
6 h ahead of Mendrisio
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,562
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to CHF – Swiss Franc Converter

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.79 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mendrisio Cebu 11,030 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mendrisio
  • 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
Mendrisio vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Mendrisio?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 231% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mendrisio or Cebu?
Average pay runs 1907% higher in Mendrisio, 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 Mendrisio and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,381 in Mendrisio 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 Mendrisio and in Cebu?
Supermarket bills run roughly 188% higher in Mendrisio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Mendrisio and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $3,034 per month in Mendrisio versus $918 in Cebu – a 231% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mendrisio or in Cebu?
At $918 in Cebu versus $3,034 in Mendrisio, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Mendrisio. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mendrisio or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mendrisio, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mendrisio or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Mendrisio 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 231% less than in Mendrisio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Mendrisio vs other spots: cost of living compared

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