Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nam Dinh and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Nam Dinh: $783 a month against $918 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nam Dinh
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$783
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $783 in Nam Dinh versus $918 in Cebu.

  • Nam Dinh $783
  • Cebu $918

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,265 in Nam Dinh versus $1,409 in Cebu.

  • Nam Dinh $1,265
  • Cebu $1,409

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,747 in Nam Dinh versus $1,900 in Cebu.

  • Nam Dinh $1,747
  • Cebu $1,900

Living in Nam Dinh costs roughly 15% less than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nam Dinh 42% lower, Cebu 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nam Dinh
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14 ₫55.3K
$3.09 ₱194
-30.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.61 ₫585.4K
$24.22 ₱1,525
-6.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.31 ₫111.6K
$3.92 ₱247
9.95%
Cappuccino
$1.89 ₫49.1K
$2.51 ₱158
-24.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₫13.1K
$1.59 ₱100
-67.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ₫7,668
$0.53 ₱33.43
-43.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.06 ₫27.5K
$1.78 ₱112
-40.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 ₫48.8K
$2.17 ₱137
-12.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nam Dinh
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 ₫37.9K
$1.92 ₱121
-23.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.06 ₫27.6K
$1.36 ₱85.4
-22.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.74 ₫19.2K
$1.01 ₱63.5
-26.73%
Eggs
$1.50 ₫38.8K
$2.03 ₱128
-26.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.21 ₫264.4K
$9.86 ₱621
3.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.80 ₫98.4K
$4.39 ₱277
-13.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.97 ₫258.1K
$7.60 ₱479
31.18%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ₫87.8K
$3.30 ₱208
2.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ₫26.9K
$1.39 ₱87.8
-25.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.32 ₫34.2K
$2.33 ₱147
-43.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 ₫29.7K
$1.50 ₱94.3
-23.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 ₫23.8K
$2.36 ₱149
-61.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ₫28.1K
$1.90 ₱119
-42.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 ₫14.2K
$1.19 ₱74.9
-53.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ₫13.4K
$0.63 ₱39.71
-17.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.39 ₫35.9K
$3.00 ₱189
-53.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.51 ₫324.0K
$6.03 ₱379
107.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₫22.8K
$1.23 ₱77.7
-28.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₫45.1K
$1.75 ₱110
-0.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Nam Dinh
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 ₫8,215
$0.25 ₱15.86
28.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.71 ₫173.7K
$12.64 ₱796
-46.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₫19.0K
$0.77 ₱48.62
-3.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 ₫15.5K
$0.23 ₱14.53
160.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.36 ₫61.0K
$4.46 ₱281
-47.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 ₫22.8K
$1.31 ₱82.8
-32.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K ₫802.2M
$21.2K ₱1.3M
45.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K ₫769.8M
$19.1K ₱1.2M
55.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nam Dinh
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.6 ₫2.2M
$120 ₱7,569
-28.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.31 ₫137.5K
$14.00 ₱882
-62.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.66 ₫224.3K
$27.54 ₱1,734
-68.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nam Dinh
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.24 ₫575.8K
$32.33 ₱2,035
-31.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.64 ₫197.8K
$6.65 ₱419
14.89%
Cinema Ticket
$4.34 ₫112.3K
$5.65 ₱356
-23.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nam Dinh
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$161 ₫4.2M
$275 ₱17.3K
-41.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.7K ₫718.2M
$7,918 ₱498.5K
250.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nam Dinh
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.87 ₫1.3M
$49.33 ₱3,106
-0.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.46 ₫684.9K
$25.24 ₱1,589
4.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.5 ₫2.2M
$77.0 ₱4,846
8.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.5 ₫2.1M
$57.2 ₱3,601
39.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nam Dinh
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$415 ₫10.7M
$500 ₱31.5K
-16.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$274 ₫7.1M
$309 ₱19.4K
-11.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ₫19.6M
$1,078 ₱67.9K
-29.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$624 ₫16.2M
$615 ₱38.7K
1.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,789 ₫72.2M
$2,886 ₱181.7K
-3.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,323 ₫34.2M
$1,917 ₱120.7K
-30.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nam Dinh
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$346 ₱21.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.28
7.2
15.00%

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

Last update for Nam Dinh: October 12, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nam Dinh
$274
Cebu
$309 12.8% $35
Groceries & Markets
Nam Dinh
$194
Cebu
$206 5.9% $12
Clothing & Footwear
Nam Dinh
$107
Cebu
$94 12.4% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nam Dinh
$100
Cebu
$162 62.4% $62
Eating Out
Nam Dinh
$65
Cebu
$88 35.7% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Nam Dinh
$31
Cebu
$44 41.1% $13
Getting Around
Nam Dinh
$12
Cebu
$16 33% $3.9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $415 in Nam Dinh and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Nam Dinh vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $206 per month, with Nam Dinh cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Nam Dinh
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
20:53 8:53 PM
21:53 9:53 PM
1 h ahead of Nam Dinh
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
179,229
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,108 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 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
  • Nam Dinh Cebu 2,210 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Nam Dinh
  • 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
Nam Dinh vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Nam Dinh?
Nam Dinh is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,174 in Nam Dinh and $1,377 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 Nam Dinh and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $415 in Nam Dinh 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 Nam Dinh and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $783 per month in Nam Dinh versus $918 in Cebu – a 17% 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 Nam Dinh runs roughly 88% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Nam Dinh or Cebu?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Nam Dinh gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Nam Dinh or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Nam Dinh is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cebu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Nam Dinh or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Nam Dinh 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 Nam Dinh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Nam Dinh vs other spots: cost of living compared

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