Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Soroca and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Soroca: $390 a month against $918 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Soroca
🇲🇩 Moldova
$390
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $390 in Soroca versus $918 in Cebu.

  • Soroca $390
  • Cebu $918

Estimated couple costs with rent: $631 in Soroca versus $1,409 in Cebu.

  • Soroca $631
  • Cebu $1,409

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $872 in Soroca versus $1,900 in Cebu.

  • Soroca $872
  • Cebu $1,900

Living in Soroca costs roughly 58% less than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Soroca 71% lower, Cebu 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Soroca
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.37 MDL 202
$3.09 ₱194
267.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.05 MDL 392
$24.22 ₱1,525
-8.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.45 MDL 79.1
$3.92 ₱247
13.52%
Cappuccino
$1.37 MDL 24.28
$2.51 ₱158
-45.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 MDL 13.48
$1.59 ₱100
-52.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 MDL 8.17
$0.53 ₱33.43
-13.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.10 MDL 19.56
$1.78 ₱112
-38.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MDL 25.38
$2.17 ₱137
-34.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Soroca
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 MDL 18.17
$1.92 ₱121
-46.87%
White Bread (500g)
$0.35 MDL 6.22
$1.36 ₱85.4
-74.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 MDL 20.13
$1.01 ₱63.5
11.88%
Eggs
$1.95 MDL 34.66
$2.03 ₱128
-3.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$9.86 ₱621
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$4.39 ₱277
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$7.60 ₱479
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$3.30 ₱208
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 MDL 35.49
$1.39 ₱87.8
43.88%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.33 ₱147
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.50 ₱94.3
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 MDL 11.86
$2.36 ₱149
-71.61%
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.90 ₱119
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.19 ₱74.9
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 MDL 9.18
$0.63 ₱39.71
-17.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.00 ₱189
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$6.03 ₱379
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.23 ₱77.7
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.75 ₱110
-
🚌 Getting Around
Soroca
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.25 ₱15.86
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$12.64 ₱796
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.10 MDL 19.52
$0.77 ₱48.62
42.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.23 ₱14.53
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.46 ₱281
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.72 MDL 30.47
$1.31 ₱82.8
31.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.2K ₱1.3M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K MDL 368.0K
$19.1K ₱1.2M
8.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Soroca
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$58.9 MDL 1,046
$120 ₱7,569
-51.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.14 MDL 145
$14.00 ₱882
-41.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.07 MDL 232
$27.54 ₱1,734
-52.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Soroca
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.67 MDL 491
$32.33 ₱2,035
-14.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.65 ₱419
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.33 MDL 59.1
$5.65 ₱356
-41.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Soroca
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$275 ₱17.3K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$7,918 ₱498.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Soroca
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.04 MDL 587
$49.33 ₱3,106
-33.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.97 MDL 603
$25.24 ₱1,589
34.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 MDL 1,910
$77.0 ₱4,846
39.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$34.12 MDL 606
$57.2 ₱3,601
-40.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Soroca
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$500 ₱31.5K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$309 ₱19.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,078 ₱67.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$615 ₱38.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,886 ₱181.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,917 ₱120.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Soroca
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 MDL 8,917
$346 ₱21.8K
45.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
7.2
-

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

Last update for Soroca: October 12, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Eating Out
Soroca
$134
Cebu
$88 34.1% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Soroca
$94
Cebu
$94 0% $0
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Soroca
$80
Cebu
$162 102% $82
Groceries & Markets
Soroca
$46 *
Cebu
$206 345% $160
Sport & Entertainment
Soroca
$34
Cebu
$44 27.1% $9.3
Getting Around
Soroca
$1.1 *
Cebu
$16 1316% $14
Accommodation & Living
Soroca
- *
Cebu
$309

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

Cost Breakdown

Soroca pays 45% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Soroca vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $46.00 vs $206 per month, with Soroca cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇩 Soroca
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
06:20 6:20 AM
11:20 11:20 AM
5 h ahead of Soroca
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
37,400
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to MDL – Moldovan Leu Converter

Moldovan Leu exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 17.76 MDL (100 MDL = 5.63 USD). 1 EUR = 19.97 MDL (100 MDL = 5.01 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Soroca Cebu 9,570 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Soroca
  • 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
Soroca vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Soroca?
Soroca is cheaper overall, especially in clothing, groceries, and leisure. The 136% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Soroca or Cebu?
Average pay runs 45% higher in Soroca, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do food prices compare in Soroca and in Cebu?
Supermarket bills run roughly 345% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Soroca or in Cebu?
Dining out is cheaper in Soroca – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $24.00 in Cebu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,200 enough for either Soroca or Cebu?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Soroca gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Soroca or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Soroca 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, Soroca or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Soroca 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 Soroca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 136% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Soroca vs other spots: cost of living compared

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