For one person, living is cheaper in Qom: $436 a month against $918 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 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 Qom and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $436 in Qom versus $918 in Cebu.
Qom $436
Cebu $918
Estimated couple costs with rent: $843 in Qom versus $1,409 in Cebu.
Qom $843
Cebu $1,409
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,250 in Qom versus $1,900 in Cebu.
Qom $1,250
Cebu $1,900
🌍
Living in Qom costs roughly 52% less than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Qom68% lower, Cebu32% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Qom
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.94$2.94
$3.09₱194
-4.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.19$17.19
$24.22₱1,525
-29.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.04$4.04
$3.92₱247
3.06%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.52$0.52
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52$1.52
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.03$1.03
$2.51₱158
-58.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42$0.42
$1.59₱100
-73.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66$1.66
$0.53₱33.43
213.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.78₱112
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.17₱137
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Qom
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.53$0.53
$1.92₱121
-72.40%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56$0.56
$1.36₱85.4
-58.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70$1.70
$1.01₱63.5
68.32%
Eggs
$1.06$1.06
$2.03₱128
-47.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.77$2.77
$9.86₱621
-71.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.24$3.24
$4.39₱277
-26.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.37$7.37
$7.60₱479
-3.03%
Apples(1kg)
$0.84$0.84
$3.30₱208
-74.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39$1.39
$1.39₱87.8
-
Oranges(1kg)
$0.95$0.95
$2.33₱147
-59.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.43$0.43
$1.50₱94.3
-71.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.46$0.46
$2.36₱149
-80.51%
Onion(1kg)
$0.47$0.47
$1.90₱119
-75.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.26$0.26
$1.19₱74.9
-78.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.24$0.24
$0.63₱39.71
-61.90%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.84$0.84
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.44$0.44
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52$1.52
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.23$1.23
$3.00₱189
-59.00%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$6.03₱379
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.23₱77.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.75₱110
-
🚌 Getting Around
Qom
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15$0.15
$0.25₱15.86
-40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.33$14.33
$12.64₱796
13.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.26$0.26
$0.77₱48.62
-66.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27$0.27
$0.23₱14.53
17.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.99$0.99
$4.46₱281
-77.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.10$0.10
$1.31₱82.8
-92.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.1K$49.1K
$21.2K₱1.3M
131.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.3K$44.3K
$19.1K₱1.2M
131.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qom
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$13.13$13.13
$120₱7,569
-89.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.28$1.28
$14.00₱882
-90.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$3.72$3.72
$27.54₱1,734
-86.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Qom
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$8.64$8.64
$32.33₱2,035
-73.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.81$9.81
$6.65₱419
47.52%
Cinema Ticket
$0.99$0.99
$5.65₱356
-82.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Qom
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$107$107
$275₱17.3K
-61.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,622$2,622
$7,918₱498.5K
-66.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Qom
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.98$14.98
$49.33₱3,106
-69.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.07$13.07
$25.24₱1,589
-48.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101$101
$77.0₱4,846
31.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.9$50.9
$57.2₱3,601
-11.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Qom
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$239$239
$500₱31.5K
-52.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$160$160
$309₱19.4K
-48.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$576$576
$1,078₱67.9K
-46.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$561$561
$615₱38.7K
-8.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$898$898
$2,886₱181.7K
-68.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$604$604
$1,917₱120.7K
-68.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Qom
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$214$214
$346₱21.8K
-38.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.33
7.2
182.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Qom: October 10, 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
Qom
$160 36.7%
Cebu
$309 33.6% ↑ 92.6%$148
🛒Groceries & Markets
Qom
$93 21.4%
Cebu
$206 22.4% ↑ 120%$112
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Qom
$81 18.6%
Cebu
$94 10.2% ↑ 15.7%$13
🍽Eating Out
Qom
$56 12.9%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↑ 56.9%$32
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qom
$18 4.2%
Cebu
$162 17.6% ↑ 792%$144
🚌Getting Around
Qom
$17 3.8%
Cebu
$16 1.7% ↓ 5.9%$1
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Qom
$11 2.4%
Cebu
$44 4.8% ↑ 311%$33
🏠Accommodation & Living
Qom
$561 44.9%
Cebu
$615 32.4% ↑ 9.7%$54
🛒Groceries & Markets
Qom
$229 18.3%
Cebu
$483 25.4% ↑ 111%$254
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Qom
$180 14.4%
Cebu
$209 11% ↑ 15.7%$28
🍽Eating Out
Qom
$196 15.7%
Cebu
$292 15.4% ↑ 48.9%$96
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qom
$19 1.6%
Cebu
$176 9.3% ↑ 806%$156
🚌Getting Around
Qom
$33 2.7%
Cebu
$32 1.7% ↓ 5.3%$1.8
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Qom
$31 2.5%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↑ 202%$63
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Qom and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cebu pays 62% 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: $17.00 in Qom vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $93.0 vs $206 per month, with Qom cheaper across the board.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Qom vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Qom?
Qom is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 110% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Qom or Cebu?
On paper, salaries run 62% lower in Cebu. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Qom and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $239 in Qom 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 Qom and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $436 per month in Qom versus $918 in Cebu – a 110% 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 Qom runs roughly 13% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $800 enough for either Qom or Cebu?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Qom gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Qom or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Qom 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, Qom or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Qom 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 Qom gentler on the wallet – expenses run 110% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.