Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabac and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Sabac: $840 a month against $915 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $900 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Cebu outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Sabac
🇷🇸 Serbia
$840
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$915
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $840 in Sabac versus $915 in Cebu.

  • Sabac $840
  • Cebu $915

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,276 in Sabac versus $1,418 in Cebu.

  • Sabac $1,276
  • Cebu $1,418

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,712 in Sabac versus $1,921 in Cebu.

  • Sabac $1,712
  • Cebu $1,921

Living in Sabac costs roughly 8% less than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sabac 38% lower, Cebu 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sabac
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.23 RSD 858
$3.05 ₱192
169.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.55 RSD 2,872
$24.00 ₱1,511
14.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.71 RSD 700
$3.99 ₱251
68.17%
Cappuccino
$1.87 RSD 195
$2.50 ₱157
-25.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 RSD 195
$1.54 ₱97.1
21.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 RSD 146
$0.50 ₱31.37
180.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.63 RSD 274
$1.78 ₱112
47.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 RSD 274
$2.17 ₱136
21.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sabac
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 RSD 136
$2.00 ₱126
-34.50%
White Bread (500g)
$0.62 RSD 65.0
$1.37 ₱86.2
-54.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 RSD 200
$1.03 ₱64.9
86.41%
Eggs
$1.89 RSD 197
$2.03 ₱128
-6.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.65 RSD 589
$10.20 ₱642
-44.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.31 RSD 658
$4.45 ₱280
41.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.48 RSD 1,197
$7.67 ₱483
49.67%
Apples (1kg)
$1.24 RSD 129
$3.31 ₱208
-62.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 RSD 188
$1.46 ₱91.8
23.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 RSD 151
$2.32 ₱146
-37.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.88 RSD 196
$1.49 ₱94.0
26.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 RSD 72.6
$2.34 ₱147
-70.09%
Onion (1kg)
$0.35 RSD 36.08
$1.94 ₱122
-81.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 RSD 105
$1.16 ₱73.0
-13.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 RSD 41.90
$0.68 ₱42.89
-41.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.61 RSD 377
$2.99 ₱188
20.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.74 RSD 807
$6.24 ₱393
24.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 RSD 68.4
$1.23 ₱77.3
-46.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 RSD 97.6
$1.73 ₱109
-45.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Sabac
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 RSD 97.1
$0.23 ₱14.36
304.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$12.34 ₱777
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 RSD 145
$0.79 ₱49.96
75.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.95 RSD 98.9
$0.22 ₱13.86
331.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.11 RSD 532
$4.54 ₱286
12.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 RSD 183
$1.32 ₱82.9
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K RSD 3.2M
$21.0K ₱1.3M
44.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K RSD 2.5M
$19.4K ₱1.2M
25.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sabac
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$138 RSD 14.4K
$119 ₱7,464
16.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.50 RSD 2,658
$14.22 ₱896
79.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.96 RSD 1,976
$27.47 ₱1,730
-30.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sabac
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.17 RSD 3,041
$32.31 ₱2,034
-9.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 RSD 1,192
$6.50 ₱409
76.00%
Cinema Ticket
$5.58 RSD 581
$5.40 ₱340
3.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sabac
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$176 RSD 18.3K
$276 ₱17.4K
-36.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,770 RSD 393.0K
$7,866 ₱495.3K
-52.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sabac
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 RSD 6,238
$49.37 ₱3,108
21.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.5 RSD 6,721
$24.58 ₱1,548
162.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.6 RSD 5,898
$76.6 ₱4,825
-26.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 RSD 12.3K
$58.9 ₱3,706
100.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sabac
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$234 RSD 24.4K
$503 ₱31.7K
-53.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$151 RSD 15.7K
$305 ₱19.2K
-50.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$345 RSD 35.9K
$1,075 ₱67.7K
-67.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$250 RSD 26.1K
$632 ₱39.8K
-60.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,884 RSD 196.4K
$2,870 ₱180.7K
-34.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,514 RSD 157.8K
$1,877 ₱118.2K
-19.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sabac
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$962 RSD 100.3K
$336 ₱21.1K
186.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.84
7.2
-32.78%

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

Last update for Sabac: October 18, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sabac
$182
Cebu
$160 12.1% $22
Groceries & Markets
Sabac
$182
Cebu
$210 15.2% $28
Accommodation & Living
Sabac
$151
Cebu
$305 102% $153
Eating Out
Sabac
$140
Cebu
$88 37.3% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Sabac
$135
Cebu
$94 30% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Sabac
$40
Cebu
$43 6.9% $2.8
Getting Around
Sabac
$9.9 *
Cebu
$15 53.7% $5.3

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $234 in Sabac and $503 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sabac pays 186% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $28.00 in Sabac vs $24.00 in Cebu. Groceries flip the comparison at $182 vs $210, with Sabac cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇷🇸 Sabac
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
14:24 2:24 PM
20:24 8:24 PM
6 h ahead of Sabac
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
51,163
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to RSD – Serbian Dinar Converter

Serbian Dinar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 104 RSD (1,000 RSD = 9.59 USD). 1 EUR = 117 RSD (1,000 RSD = 8.53 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sabac Cebu 10,300 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sabac
  • 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
Sabac vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Sabac?
Sabac is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and transport. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sabac or Cebu?
Average pay runs 186% higher in Sabac, 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 Sabac and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $234 in Sabac versus $503 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Sabac and in Cebu?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Sabac and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $840 per month in Sabac versus $915 in Cebu – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,200 enough for either Sabac or Cebu?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Sabac gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Sabac or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Sabac 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, Sabac or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Sabac 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 Sabac gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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