For one person, living is cheaper in Settat: $647 a month against $918 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most 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 Settat and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $647 in Settat versus $918 in Cebu.
Settat $647
Cebu $918
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,028 in Settat versus $1,409 in Cebu.
Settat $1,028
Cebu $1,409
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,410 in Settat versus $1,900 in Cebu.
Settat $1,410
Cebu $1,900
🌍
Living in Settat costs roughly 30% less than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Settat52% lower, Cebu32% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Settat
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09MAD 30.09
$3.09₱194
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.63MAD 299
$24.22₱1,525
26.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.11MAD 59.6
$3.92₱247
55.87%
Cappuccino
$1.11MAD 10.84
$2.51₱158
-55.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44MAD 4.26
$1.59₱100
-72.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32MAD 3.07
$0.53₱33.43
-39.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16MAD 11.35
$1.78₱112
-34.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48MAD 14.43
$2.17₱137
-31.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Settat
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84MAD 8.18
$1.92₱121
-56.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78MAD 7.60
$1.36₱85.4
-42.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51MAD 14.74
$1.01₱63.5
49.50%
Eggs
$1.86MAD 18.17
$2.03₱128
-8.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85MAD 76.5
$9.86₱621
-20.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.30MAD 51.7
$4.39₱277
20.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00MAD 107
$7.60₱479
44.74%
Apples(1kg)
$1.59MAD 15.46
$3.30₱208
-51.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34MAD 13.02
$1.39₱87.8
-3.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.90MAD 8.82
$2.33₱147
-61.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.77MAD 7.49
$1.50₱94.3
-48.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66MAD 6.43
$2.36₱149
-72.03%
Onion(1kg)
$0.79MAD 7.68
$1.90₱119
-58.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24MAD 2.34
$1.19₱74.9
-79.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51MAD 5.00
$0.63₱39.71
-19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MAD 39.78
$3.00₱189
36.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.58MAD 73.9
$6.03₱379
25.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19MAD 21.38
$1.23₱77.7
78.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25MAD 31.71
$1.75₱110
85.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Settat
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.50MAD 4.91
$0.25₱15.86
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.93MAD 204
$12.64₱796
65.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73MAD 7.08
$0.77₱48.62
-5.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61MAD 5.96
$0.23₱14.53
165.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.86MAD 66.9
$4.46₱281
53.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MAD 14.02
$1.31₱82.8
9.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6KMAD 327.6K
$21.2K₱1.3M
58.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9KMAD 281.3K
$19.1K₱1.2M
50.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Settat
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$20.18MAD 197
$120₱7,569
-83.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.04MAD 49.17
$14.00₱882
-64.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.13MAD 352
$27.54₱1,734
31.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Settat
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.49MAD 180
$32.33₱2,035
-42.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.83MAD 203
$6.65₱419
213.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.11MAD 59.5
$5.65₱356
8.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Settat
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.5MAD 931
$275₱17.3K
-65.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,175MAD 79.7K
$7,918₱498.5K
3.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Settat
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.99MAD 302
$49.33₱3,106
-37.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.10MAD 430
$25.24₱1,589
74.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.3MAD 793
$77.0₱4,846
5.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.1MAD 781
$57.2₱3,601
40.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Settat
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$270MAD 2,631
$500₱31.5K
-45.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174MAD 1,694
$309₱19.4K
-43.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$456MAD 4,450
$1,078₱67.9K
-57.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$274MAD 2,676
$615₱38.7K
-55.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,214MAD 11.8K
$2,886₱181.7K
-57.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$851MAD 8,299
$1,917₱120.7K
-55.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Settat
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$204MAD 1,990
$346₱21.8K
-41.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
7.2
-51.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Settat: October 11, 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.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Settat
$179 27.8%
Cebu
$206 22.4% ↑ 14.7%$26
🏠Accommodation & Living
Settat
$174 26.9%
Cebu
$309 33.6% ↑ 77.8%$135
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Settat
$106 16.5%
Cebu
$94 10.2% ↓ 11.8%$13
🍽Eating Out
Settat
$68 10.5%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↑ 29.5%$20
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Settat
$61 9.5%
Cebu
$162 17.6% ↑ 164%$100
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Settat
$31 4.8%
Cebu
$44 4.8% ↑ 42%$13
🚌Getting Around
Settat
$27 4.1%
Cebu
$16 1.7% ↓ 41.8%$11
🛒Groceries & Markets
Settat
$410 29.1%
Cebu
$483 25.4% ↑ 17.8%$73
🏠Accommodation & Living
Settat
$274 19.5%
Cebu
$615 32.4% ↑ 124%$341
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Settat
$237 16.8%
Cebu
$209 11% ↓ 11.8%$28
🍽Eating Out
Settat
$286 20.3%
Cebu
$292 15.4% ↑ 2.2%$6.4
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Settat
$66 4.7%
Cebu
$176 9.3% ↑ 165%$109
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Settat
$82 5.8%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↑ 14.2%$12
🚌Getting Around
Settat
$54 3.9%
Cebu
$32 1.7% ↓ 41.9%$23
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in Settat and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cebu pays 70% 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: $31.00 in Settat vs $24.00 in Cebu. Groceries flip the comparison at $179 vs $206, with Settat cheaper for home cooking.
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
Settat vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Settat?
Settat is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Settat or Cebu?
On paper, salaries run 70% 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 Settat and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $270 in Settat 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 Settat and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $647 per month in Settat versus $918 in Cebu – a 42% 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 Settat runs roughly 66% 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 Settat or Cebu?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Settat gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Settat or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Settat 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, Settat or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Settat 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 Settat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.