For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,817 in Oviedo, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 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 Oviedo and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,817 in Oviedo versus $918 in Cebu.
Oviedo $1,817
Cebu $918
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,761 in Oviedo versus $1,409 in Cebu.
Oviedo $2,761
Cebu $1,409
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,704 in Oviedo versus $1,900 in Cebu.
Oviedo $3,704
Cebu $1,900
🌍
Living in Oviedo is roughly 98% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Oviedo is 35% above, Cebu is 32% below.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Oviedo
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.21€22.42
$3.09₱194
715.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.4€60.0
$24.22₱1,525
178.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€12.13
$3.92₱247
247.96%
Cappuccino
$2.25€2.00
$2.51₱158
-10.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89€2.57
$1.59₱100
81.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18€1.94
$0.53₱33.43
311.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.93€3.50
$1.78₱112
120.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.17€3.71
$2.17₱137
92.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oviedo
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17€1.04
$1.92₱121
-39.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.17€1.04
$1.36₱85.4
-13.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38€1.23
$1.01₱63.5
36.63%
Eggs
$4.20€3.73
$2.03₱128
106.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.30€11.83
$9.86₱621
34.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.70€7.74
$4.39₱277
98.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.92€15.05
$7.60₱479
122.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.81€2.50
$3.30₱208
-14.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12€1.88
$1.39₱87.8
52.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.23€1.98
$2.33₱147
-4.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.43€3.05
$1.50₱94.3
128.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16€1.92
$2.36₱149
-8.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17€1.93
$1.90₱119
14.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41€1.25
$1.19₱74.9
18.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.75
$0.63₱39.71
34.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.81€5.17
$3.00₱189
93.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.42€4.82
$6.03₱379
-10.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.37
$1.23₱77.7
25.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23€2.87
$1.75₱110
84.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Oviedo
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.65€1.46
$0.25₱15.86
560.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.12€29.46
$12.64₱796
162.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.32€4.74
$0.77₱48.62
590.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32€1.18
$0.23₱14.53
473.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.49€16.45
$4.46₱281
314.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81€1.61
$1.31₱82.8
38.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€31.3K
$21.2K₱1.3M
65.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K€26.8K
$19.1K₱1.2M
57.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oviedo
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$154€137
$120₱7,569
28.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.18€17.06
$14.00₱882
37.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.24€29.56
$27.54₱1,734
20.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oviedo
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.03€40.05
$32.33₱2,035
39.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.09€12.53
$6.65₱419
111.88%
Cinema Ticket
$11.25€10.00
$5.65₱356
99.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oviedo
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$348€309
$275₱17.3K
26.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,237€7,327
$7,918₱498.5K
4.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oviedo
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109€97.2
$49.33₱3,106
121.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.0€64.9
$25.24₱1,589
189.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124€110
$77.0₱4,846
60.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141€125
$57.2₱3,601
145.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oviedo
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$919€817
$500₱31.5K
83.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$688€612
$309₱19.4K
122.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,500€1,334
$1,078₱67.9K
39.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,106€984
$615₱38.7K
79.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,899€2,579
$2,886₱181.7K
0.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,771€1,576
$1,917₱120.7K
-7.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oviedo
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,838€1,635
$346₱21.8K
431.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.96
7.2
-58.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oviedo: October 12, 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
Oviedo
$689 37.9%
Cebu
$309 33.6% ↓ 55.1%$380
🍽Eating Out
Oviedo
$318 17.5%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↓ 72.2%$230
🛒Groceries & Markets
Oviedo
$284 15.6%
Cebu
$206 22.4% ↓ 27.6%$78
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oviedo
$207 11.4%
Cebu
$162 17.6% ↓ 21.7%$45
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Oviedo
$201 11.1%
Cebu
$94 10.2% ↓ 53.2%$107
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Oviedo
$68 3.7%
Cebu
$44 4.8% ↓ 35.4%$24
🚌Getting Around
Oviedo
$52 2.8%
Cebu
$16 1.7% ↓ 69.9%$36
🏠Accommodation & Living
Oviedo
$1.1K 29.8%
Cebu
$615 32.4% ↓ 44.4%$491
🍽Eating Out
Oviedo
$992 26.8%
Cebu
$292 15.4% ↓ 70.5%$700
🛒Groceries & Markets
Oviedo
$679 18.3%
Cebu
$483 25.4% ↓ 28.9%$196
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oviedo
$226 6.1%
Cebu
$176 9.3% ↓ 22.2%$50
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Oviedo
$446 12.1%
Cebu
$209 11% ↓ 53.2%$238
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Oviedo
$149 4%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↓ 37%$55
🚌Getting Around
Oviedo
$107 2.9%
Cebu
$32 1.7% ↓ 70.3%$75
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $919 in Oviedo and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Oviedo pays 431% 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: $67.0 in Oviedo vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 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
Oviedo vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Oviedo?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and clothing. The 98% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Oviedo or Cebu?
Average pay runs 431% higher in Oviedo, 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 Oviedo and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $919 in Oviedo 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 Oviedo and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $1,817 per month in Oviedo versus $918 in Cebu – a 98% 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 162% less than in Oviedo. 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 Oviedo or in Cebu?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,817 in Oviedo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Oviedo. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Oviedo or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Oviedo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Oviedo or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Oviedo 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 98% less than in Oviedo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.