For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $1,878 in Modena, rent and utilities included – about $11,300 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 Modena and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,878 in Modena versus $934 in Cebu.
Modena $1,878
Cebu $934
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,029 in Modena versus $1,415 in Cebu.
Modena $3,029
Cebu $1,415
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,179 in Modena versus $1,896 in Cebu.
Modena $4,179
Cebu $1,896
🌍
Living in Modena is roughly 101% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Modena is 40% above, Cebu is 30% below.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Modena
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.22€19.83
$3.03₱190
633.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.7€79.1
$23.48₱1,473
277.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.50€12.05
$4.09₱256
230.07%
Cappuccino
$1.91€1.71
$2.52₱158
-24.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96€2.64
$1.54₱96.9
92.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65€1.47
$0.49₱30.98
236.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.65€5.93
$1.79₱112
271.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55€4.96
$2.26₱142
145.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Modena
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51€1.35
$1.95₱122
-22.56%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54€2.27
$1.43₱89.7
77.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66€1.48
$1.02₱63.8
62.75%
Eggs
$4.87€4.35
$2.06₱129
136.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.54€18.33
$9.81₱615
109.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.92€12.42
$4.61₱289
201.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.10€18.83
$7.70₱483
174.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68€2.39
$3.31₱207
-19.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.49€2.22
$1.45₱90.9
71.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.22€2.88
$2.36₱148
36.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.11€2.78
$1.54₱96.4
101.95%
Potato(1kg)
$2.41€2.15
$2.36₱148
2.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.72€1.54
$1.99₱125
-13.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36€1.22
$1.15₱72.1
18.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67€0.59
$0.67₱42.15
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.63€5.92
$3.00₱188
121.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.92€7.96
$6.35₱398
40.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.39
$1.31₱81.9
19.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52€2.25
$1.73₱108
45.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Modena
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25€2.01
$0.25₱15.78
800.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.94€34.75
$12.65₱793
207.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.68€5.96
$0.74₱46.32
802.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46€1.31
$0.21₱13.11
595.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.55€29.05
$4.33₱271
651.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11€1.88
$1.33₱83.5
58.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K€32.0K
$21.8K₱1.4M
64.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K€32.1K
$19.4K₱1.2M
85.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Modena
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190€169
$121₱7,563
57.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.17€11.75
$14.45₱907
-8.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.70€28.29
$28.29₱1,774
12.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Modena
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$79.4€70.9
$32.68₱2,050
142.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.90€20.44
$6.39₱401
258.37%
Cinema Ticket
$11.03€9.84
$5.46₱342
102.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Modena
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$565€505
$273₱17.1K
106.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.6K
$8,156₱511.5K
86.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Modena
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.4€76.2
$49.57₱3,109
72.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.56€37.98
$24.87₱1,560
71.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.6€88.0
$76.6₱4,804
28.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105€93.3
$59.3₱3,717
76.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Modena
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$832€743
$506₱31.7K
64.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$664€593
$309₱19.4K
114.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,720€1,535
$1,052₱66.0K
63.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,340€1,195
$619₱38.8K
116.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,595€3,208
$2,915₱182.9K
23.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,144€1,913
$1,867₱117.1K
14.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Modena
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,062€1,840
$341₱21.4K
504.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.29
7.2
-54.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Modena: October 3, 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
Modena
$664 35.2%
Cebu
$309 33.5% ↓ 53.4%$355
🛒Groceries & Markets
Modena
$373 19.7%
Cebu
$210 22.7% ↓ 43.6%$162
🍽Eating Out
Modena
$304 16.1%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↓ 70.9%$216
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Modena
$235 12.4%
Cebu
$163 17.7% ↓ 30.4%$71
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Modena
$149 7.9%
Cebu
$95 10.2% ↓ 36.5%$54
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Modena
$101 5.4%
Cebu
$44 4.7% ↓ 57%$58
🚌Getting Around
Modena
$62 3.3%
Cebu
$15 1.7% ↓ 75.1%$47
🏠Accommodation & Living
Modena
$1.3K 31.8%
Cebu
$619 32.4% ↓ 53.8%$721
🛒Groceries & Markets
Modena
$887 21%
Cebu
$493 25.8% ↓ 44.4%$394
🍽Eating Out
Modena
$1.1K 25.1%
Cebu
$288 15.1% ↓ 72.8%$771
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Modena
$248 5.9%
Cebu
$178 9.3% ↓ 28.3%$70
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Modena
$331 7.9%
Cebu
$210 11% ↓ 36.5%$121
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Modena
$226 5.4%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↓ 58.6%$132
🚌Getting Around
Modena
$128 3%
Cebu
$31 1.6% ↓ 75.6%$97
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $832 in Modena and $506 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Modena pays 504% 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: $89.0 in Modena vs $23.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $373 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
Modena vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Modena?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 101% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Modena or Cebu?
Average pay runs 504% higher in Modena, 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 Modena and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $832 in Modena 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 Modena and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $1,878 per month in Modena versus $934 in Cebu – a 101% 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 208% less than in Modena. 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 Modena or in Cebu?
At $934 in Cebu versus $1,878 in Modena, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Modena. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Modena or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Modena, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Modena or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Modena 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 101% less than in Modena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.