For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $2,016 in Monza, rent and utilities included – about $13,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half 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 Monza and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,016 in Monza versus $918 in Cebu.
Monza $2,016
Cebu $918
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,117 in Monza versus $1,409 in Cebu.
Monza $3,117
Cebu $1,409
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,217 in Monza versus $1,900 in Cebu.
Monza $4,217
Cebu $1,900
🌍
Living in Monza is roughly 120% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Monza is 49% above, Cebu is 32% below.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Monza
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.09€19.65
$3.09₱194
614.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.8€79.0
$24.22₱1,525
266.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.06€9.84
$3.92₱247
182.14%
Cappuccino
$1.87€1.66
$2.51₱158
-25.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48€3.10
$1.59₱100
118.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29€1.15
$0.53₱33.43
143.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.66€5.04
$1.78₱112
217.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96€5.30
$2.17₱137
174.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monza
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43€1.27
$1.92₱121
-25.52%
White Bread(500g)
$2.29€2.04
$1.36₱85.4
68.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.61€3.21
$1.01₱63.5
257.43%
Eggs
$3.37€3.00
$2.03₱128
66.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$22.44€19.96
$9.86₱621
127.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.36€12.77
$4.39₱277
227.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.25€19.79
$7.60₱479
192.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83€2.52
$3.30₱208
-14.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79€1.60
$1.39₱87.8
28.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.27€2.91
$2.33₱147
40.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.27€2.91
$1.50₱94.3
118.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.03€1.81
$2.36₱149
-13.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95€1.73
$1.90₱119
2.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.80€1.61
$1.19₱74.9
51.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62€0.55
$0.63₱39.71
-1.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.85
$3.00₱189
119.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.54€4.93
$6.03₱379
-8.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91€1.70
$1.23₱77.7
55.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.97
$1.75₱110
26.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Monza
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03€2.70
$0.25₱15.86
1112.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.6€59.2
$12.64₱796
426.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.59€6.75
$0.77₱48.62
885.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.21€1.08
$0.23₱14.53
426.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.56€30.74
$4.46₱281
674.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.80
$1.31₱82.8
54.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K€32.3K
$21.2K₱1.3M
71.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K€31.5K
$19.1K₱1.2M
84.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monza
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$196€174
$120₱7,569
63.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.42€9.27
$14.00₱882
-25.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.75€23.79
$27.54₱1,734
-2.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monza
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.30€42.07
$32.33₱2,035
46.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.76€35.36
$6.65₱419
497.89%
Cinema Ticket
$12.63€11.24
$5.65₱356
123.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monza
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$831€739
$275₱17.3K
201.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.0K€16.9K
$7,918₱498.5K
139.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monza
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.8€80.8
$49.33₱3,106
84.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.13€39.25
$25.24₱1,589
74.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€96.1
$77.0₱4,846
40.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166€148
$57.2₱3,601
190.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monza
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,013€901
$500₱31.5K
102.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$767€682
$309₱19.4K
148.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,950€1,735
$1,078₱67.9K
80.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,261€1,122
$615₱38.7K
105.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,850
$2,886₱181.7K
49.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,967€2,640
$1,917₱120.7K
54.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monza
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,939€1,725
$346₱21.8K
460.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.62
7.2
-49.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Monza: October 11, 2026
Last update for Cebu: October 12, 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
Monza
$767 38.1%
Cebu
$309 33.6% ↓ 59.7%$458
🛒Groceries & Markets
Monza
$375 18.6%
Cebu
$206 22.4% ↓ 45.1%$169
🍽Eating Out
Monza
$292 14.5%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↓ 69.7%$203
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monza
$233 11.6%
Cebu
$162 17.6% ↓ 30.6%$71
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Monza
$184 9.1%
Cebu
$94 10.2% ↓ 49%$90
🚌Getting Around
Monza
$92 4.6%
Cebu
$16 1.7% ↓ 83.1%$77
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Monza
$73 3.6%
Cebu
$44 4.8% ↓ 39.9%$29
🏠Accommodation & Living
Monza
$1.3K 29.9%
Cebu
$615 32.4% ↓ 51.2%$646
🛒Groceries & Markets
Monza
$888 21.1%
Cebu
$483 25.4% ↓ 45.6%$405
🍽Eating Out
Monza
$1K 24.7%
Cebu
$292 15.4% ↓ 71.9%$748
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monza
$244 5.8%
Cebu
$176 9.3% ↓ 27.8%$68
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Monza
$409 9.7%
Cebu
$209 11% ↓ 49%$200
🚌Getting Around
Monza
$191 4.5%
Cebu
$32 1.7% ↓ 83.4%$159
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Monza
$185 4.4%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↓ 49.2%$91
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,013 in Monza and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Monza pays 461% 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 Monza vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $206 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
Monza vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Monza?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 120% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Monza or Cebu?
Average pay runs 461% higher in Monza, 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 Monza and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,013 in Monza versus $500 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Monza and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $2,016 per month in Monza versus $918 in Cebu – a 120% 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 427% less than in Monza. 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 Monza or in Cebu?
At $918 in Cebu versus $2,016 in Monza, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Monza. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Monza or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Monza, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Monza or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Monza 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 120% less than in Monza. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.