Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Setagaya-ku and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,183 in Setagaya-ku, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Setagaya-ku
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,183
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,183 in Setagaya-ku versus $918 in Cebu.

  • Setagaya-ku $1,183
  • Cebu $918

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Setagaya-ku versus $1,409 in Cebu.

  • Setagaya-ku $1,834
  • Cebu $1,409

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,484 in Setagaya-ku versus $1,900 in Cebu.

  • Setagaya-ku $2,484
  • Cebu $1,900

Living in Setagaya-ku is roughly 29% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Setagaya-ku 12% lower, Cebu 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Setagaya-ku
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.12 ¥968
$3.09 ₱194
98.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.64 ¥4,050
$24.22 ₱1,525
5.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.36 ¥690
$3.92 ₱247
11.22%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ¥470
$2.51 ₱158
18.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ¥165
$1.59 ₱100
-34.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ¥102
$0.53 ₱33.43
22.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ¥346
$1.78 ₱112
23.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 ¥508
$2.17 ₱137
48.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Setagaya-ku
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 ¥194
$1.92 ₱121
-35.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.72 ¥272
$1.36 ₱85.4
26.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.64 ¥575
$1.01 ₱63.5
260.40%
Eggs
$1.17 ¥186
$2.03 ₱128
-42.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.40 ¥1,643
$9.86 ₱621
5.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.11 ¥965
$4.39 ₱277
39.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.25 ¥2,252
$7.60 ₱479
87.50%
Apples (1kg)
$5.59 ¥883
$3.30 ₱208
69.39%
Banana (1kg)
$2.74 ¥433
$1.39 ₱87.8
97.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 ¥466
$2.33 ₱147
26.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.14 ¥654
$1.50 ₱94.3
176.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.62 ¥415
$2.36 ₱149
11.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.63 ¥416
$1.90 ₱119
38.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 ¥196
$1.19 ₱74.9
4.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥87.7
$0.63 ₱39.71
-11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.79 ¥599
$3.00 ₱189
26.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.26 ¥989
$6.03 ₱379
3.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 ¥287
$1.23 ₱77.7
47.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 ¥330
$1.75 ₱110
19.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Setagaya-ku
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.46 ¥231
$0.25 ₱15.86
484.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.7 ¥8,012
$12.64 ₱796
301.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 ¥510
$0.77 ₱48.62
319.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.66 ¥421
$0.23 ₱14.53
1056.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.85 ¥3,294
$4.46 ₱281
367.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ¥174
$1.31 ₱82.8
-16.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ¥3.4M
$21.2K ₱1.3M
-0.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.6K ¥2.9M
$19.1K ₱1.2M
-3.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Setagaya-ku
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 ¥20.6K
$120 ₱7,569
8.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.82 ¥3,764
$14.00 ₱882
70.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.73 ¥5,013
$27.54 ₱1,734
15.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Setagaya-ku
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.0 ¥8,691
$32.33 ₱2,035
70.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.65 ₱419
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.52 ¥1,820
$5.65 ₱356
103.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Setagaya-ku
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$636 ¥100.5K
$275 ₱17.3K
130.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ¥2.3M
$7,918 ₱498.5K
85.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Setagaya-ku
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.3 ¥9,846
$49.33 ₱3,106
26.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.37 ¥5,747
$25.24 ₱1,589
44.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.1 ¥9,814
$77.0 ₱4,846
-19.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 ¥16.2K
$57.2 ₱3,601
78.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Setagaya-ku
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$534 ¥84.4K
$500 ₱31.5K
6.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$325 ¥51.4K
$309 ₱19.4K
5.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,152 ¥182.0K
$1,078 ₱67.9K
6.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 ¥106.4K
$615 ₱38.7K
9.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,724 ¥588.4K
$2,886 ₱181.7K
29.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,635 ¥258.4K
$1,917 ₱120.7K
-14.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Setagaya-ku
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$346 ₱21.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2
7.2
-72.22%

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

Last update for Setagaya-ku: October 12, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Setagaya-ku
$325
Cebu
$309 5% $16
Groceries & Markets
Setagaya-ku
$281
Cebu
$206 26.7% $75
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Setagaya-ku
$186
Cebu
$162 13.1% $24
Eating Out
Setagaya-ku
$122
Cebu
$88 27.6% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Setagaya-ku
$118
Cebu
$94 20.7% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Setagaya-ku
$78
Cebu
$44 44.1% $34
Getting Around
Setagaya-ku
$73
Cebu
$16 78.7% $58

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $534 in Setagaya-ku and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $26.00 in Setagaya-ku vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $206 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Setagaya-ku
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
09:48 9:48 AM
08:48 8:48 AM
1 h behind Setagaya-ku
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
943,664
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 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
  • Setagaya-ku Cebu 3,240 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Setagaya-ku
  • 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
Setagaya-ku vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Setagaya-ku?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,775 in Setagaya-ku and $1,377 in Cebu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Setagaya-ku and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $534 in Setagaya-ku 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 Setagaya-ku and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $1,183 per month in Setagaya-ku versus $918 in Cebu – a 29% 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 301% less than in Setagaya-ku. 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 Setagaya-ku or in Cebu?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,183 in Setagaya-ku, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Setagaya-ku. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Setagaya-ku or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Setagaya-ku, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Setagaya-ku or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Setagaya-ku 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 29% less than in Setagaya-ku. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Setagaya-ku vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?