Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Samsun and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $960 in Samsun versus $934 in Cebu.
Samsun $960
Cebu $934
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,651 in Samsun versus $1,415 in Cebu.
Samsun $1,651
Cebu $1,415
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,341 in Samsun versus $1,896 in Cebu.
Samsun $2,341
Cebu $1,896
🌍
Living in Samsun is roughly 3% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Samsun28% lower, Cebu30% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Samsun
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.34₺510
$3.03₱190
241.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.9₺2,999
$23.48₱1,473
159.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.80₺532
$4.09₱256
164.06%
Cappuccino
$4.03₺198
$2.52₱158
59.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79₺38.71
$1.54₱96.9
-48.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30₺14.70
$0.49₱30.98
-38.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.86₺91.7
$1.79₱112
3.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98₺97.3
$2.26₱142
-12.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samsun
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18₺58.3
$1.95₱122
-39.49%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05₺101
$1.43₱89.7
43.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.81₺138
$1.02₱63.8
175.49%
Eggs
$2.60₺128
$2.06₱129
26.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.57₺422
$9.81₱615
-12.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.77₺284
$4.61₱289
25.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.69₺1,315
$7.70₱483
246.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39₺118
$3.31₱207
-27.79%
Banana(1kg)
$2.42₺119
$1.45₱90.9
66.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51₺74.3
$2.36₱148
-36.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09₺53.8
$1.54₱96.4
-29.22%
Potato(1kg)
$0.47₺23.26
$2.36₱148
-80.08%
Onion(1kg)
$0.34₺16.93
$1.99₱125
-82.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89₺43.80
$1.15₱72.1
-22.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63₺31.03
$0.67₱42.15
-5.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.09₺103
$3.00₱188
-30.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.96₺441
$6.35₱398
41.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67₺82.0
$1.31₱81.9
27.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23₺110
$1.73₱108
28.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Samsun
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60₺29.73
$0.25₱15.78
140.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.01₺591
$12.65₱793
-5.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.07₺102
$0.74₱46.32
179.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₺33.58
$0.21₱13.11
223.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.62₺326
$4.33₱271
52.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34₺66.2
$1.33₱83.5
0.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.6K₺2.0M
$21.8K₱1.4M
90.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3K₺2.0M
$19.4K₱1.2M
107.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samsun
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.5₺4,509
$121₱7,563
-24.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.75₺628
$14.45₱907
-11.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.56₺619
$28.29₱1,774
-55.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samsun
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.29₺1,542
$32.68₱2,050
-4.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.13₺302
$6.39₱401
-4.07%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99₺197
$5.46₱342
-26.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samsun
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$256₺12.6K
$273₱17.1K
-6.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$8,156₱511.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samsun
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.15₺1,189
$49.57₱3,109
-51.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.51₺1,503
$24.87₱1,560
22.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.1₺3,452
$76.6₱4,804
-8.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.9₺3,048
$59.3₱3,717
4.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samsun
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$349₺17.2K
$506₱31.7K
-30.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$258₺12.7K
$309₱19.4K
-16.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$752₺37.1K
$1,052₱66.0K
-28.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$618₺30.4K
$619₱38.8K
-0.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$984₺48.5K
$2,915₱182.9K
-66.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$666₺32.8K
$1,867₱117.1K
-64.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samsun
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$934₺46.0K
$341₱21.4K
173.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
49
7.2
580.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Samsun: October 5, 2026
Last update for Cebu: October 5, 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.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Samsun
$270 27.9%
Cebu
$210 22.7% ↓ 22.2%$60
🏠Accommodation & Living
Samsun
$258 26.6%
Cebu
$309 33.5% ↑ 19.8%$51
🍽Eating Out
Samsun
$181 18.7%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↓ 51.2%$93
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samsun
$117 12.1%
Cebu
$163 17.7% ↑ 39.8%$46
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Samsun
$84 8.7%
Cebu
$95 10.2% ↑ 12.7%$11
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Samsun
$39 4.1%
Cebu
$44 4.7% ↑ 11%$4.3
🚌Getting Around
Samsun
$20 2.1%
Cebu
$15 1.7% ↓ 22.4%$4.5
🛒Groceries & Markets
Samsun
$638 26.9%
Cebu
$493 25.8% ↓ 22.7%$145
🏠Accommodation & Living
Samsun
$618 26.1%
Cebu
$619 32.4% ↑ 0.2%$1.1
🍽Eating Out
Samsun
$671 28.3%
Cebu
$288 15.1% ↓ 57%$382
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samsun
$130 5.5%
Cebu
$178 9.3% ↑ 37.2%$48
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Samsun
$187 7.9%
Cebu
$210 11% ↑ 12.7%$24
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Samsun
$85 3.6%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↑ 10.5%$8.9
🚌Getting Around
Samsun
$41 1.7%
Cebu
$31 1.6% ↓ 23.4%$9.6
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Samsun and $506 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Samsun pays 174% 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: $61.0 in Samsun vs $23.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $210 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
Samsun vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Samsun?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and transport. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Samsun or Cebu?
Average pay runs 174% higher in Samsun, 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 Samsun and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $349 in Samsun versus $506 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Samsun and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $960 per month in Samsun versus $934 in Cebu – a 3% 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 5% less than in Samsun. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Samsun or Cebu?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Cebu gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Samsun or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Samsun, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Samsun or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Samsun 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 3% less than in Samsun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.