Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rajshahi and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Rajshahi: $319 a month against $918 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $7,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rajshahi
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$319
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $319 in Rajshahi versus $918 in Cebu.

  • Rajshahi $319
  • Cebu $918

Estimated couple costs with rent: $502 in Rajshahi versus $1,409 in Cebu.

  • Rajshahi $502
  • Cebu $1,409

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $686 in Rajshahi versus $1,900 in Cebu.

  • Rajshahi $686
  • Cebu $1,900

Living in Rajshahi costs roughly 65% less than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rajshahi 76% lower, Cebu 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rajshahi
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.84 ৳103
$3.09 ₱194
-72.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$7.99 ৳983
$24.22 ₱1,520
-67.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.81 ৳346
$3.92 ₱246
-28.32%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.95 ৳486
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 ৳274
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.37 ৳168
$2.51 ₱157
-45.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ৳40.85
$1.59 ₱99.9
-79.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ৳19.09
$0.53 ₱33.33
-69.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.78 ₱112
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.17 ₱136
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rajshahi
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.69 ৳84.5
$1.92 ₱120
-64.06%
White Bread (500g)
$0.64 ৳78.4
$1.36 ₱85.2
-52.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.63 ৳77.9
$1.01 ₱63.3
-37.62%
Eggs
$1.14 ৳140
$2.03 ₱127
-43.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.84 ৳1,088
$9.86 ₱619
-10.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.18 ৳392
$4.39 ₱276
-27.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.58 ৳810
$7.60 ₱477
-13.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.59 ৳319
$3.30 ₱207
-21.52%
Banana (1kg)
$0.95 ৳117
$1.39 ₱87.5
-31.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 ৳288
$2.33 ₱146
0.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.48 ৳58.8
$1.50 ₱94.0
-68.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.24 ৳29.26
$2.36 ₱148
-89.83%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 ৳56.9
$1.90 ₱119
-75.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.32 ৳38.86
$1.19 ₱74.7
-73.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 ৳37.30
$0.63 ₱39.59
-52.38%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$12.27 ৳1,510
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 ৳197
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ৳255
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 ৳409
$3.00 ₱189
10.67%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$6.03 ₱378
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.23 ₱77.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.75 ₱110
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rajshahi
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.07 ৳8.45
$0.25 ₱15.81
-72.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.24 ৳1,507
$12.64 ₱793
-3.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ৳146
$0.77 ₱48.47
54.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 ৳37.71
$0.23 ₱14.49
34.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 ৳117
$4.46 ₱280
-78.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ৳141
$1.31 ₱82.5
-12.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K ৳3.7M
$21.2K ₱1.3M
40.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K ৳4.0M
$19.1K ₱1.2M
69.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rajshahi
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.85 ৳5,521
$120 ₱7,547
-62.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.12 ৳507
$14.00 ₱879
-70.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.36 ৳1,276
$27.54 ₱1,729
-62.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rajshahi
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$5.93 ৳730
$32.33 ₱2,029
-81.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.65 ₱417
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 ৳509
$5.65 ₱355
-26.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rajshahi
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$13.45 ৳1,656
$275 ₱17.3K
-95.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$688 ৳84.7K
$7,918 ₱497.0K
-91.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rajshahi
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$7.11 ৳875
$49.33 ₱3,097
-85.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.66 ৳1,805
$25.24 ₱1,585
-41.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$25.27 ৳3,111
$77.0 ₱4,831
-67.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$21.41 ৳2,636
$57.2 ₱3,590
-62.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rajshahi
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$74.5 ৳9,165
$500 ₱31.4K
-85.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$46.35 ৳5,706
$309 ₱19.4K
-84.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$133 ৳16.3K
$1,078 ₱67.7K
-87.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$96.0 ৳11.8K
$615 ₱38.6K
-84.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$495 ৳60.9K
$2,886 ₱181.2K
-82.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 ৳281.2K
$1,917 ₱120.3K
19.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rajshahi
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$219 ৳27.0K
$346 ₱21.7K
-36.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.48
7.2
45.56%

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

Last update for Rajshahi: October 11, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Rajshahi
$119
Cebu
$206 72.3% $86
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rajshahi
$59
Cebu
$162 173% $102
Accommodation & Living
Rajshahi
$46
Cebu
$309 566% $262
Eating Out
Rajshahi
$33
Cebu
$88 164% $55
Clothing & Footwear
Rajshahi
$31
Cebu
$94 205% $63
Getting Around
Rajshahi
$15
Cebu
$16 2.2% $0.3
Sport & Entertainment
Rajshahi
$14
Cebu
$44 207% $29

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $74.5 in Rajshahi and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 58% 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: $8.00 in Rajshahi vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $119 vs $206 per month, with Rajshahi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇩 Rajshahi
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
08:10 8:10 AM
10:10 10:10 AM
2 h ahead of Rajshahi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
451,425
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to BDT – Bangladeshi Taka Converter

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 123 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.12 USD). 1 EUR = 138 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.26 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 62.77 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.25 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rajshahi Cebu 4,050 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rajshahi
  • 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
Rajshahi vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Rajshahi?
Rajshahi is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 188% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Rajshahi or Cebu?
On paper, salaries run 58% 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 Rajshahi and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $74.5 in Rajshahi 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 Rajshahi and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $319 per month in Rajshahi versus $918 in Cebu – a 188% 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 Rajshahi runs roughly 3% 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 Rajshahi or Cebu?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Rajshahi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Rajshahi or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Rajshahi 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, Rajshahi or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Rajshahi 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 Rajshahi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 188% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Rajshahi vs other spots: cost of living compared

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