Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between South Korea and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $1,543 in South Korea, rent and utilities included – about $7,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,543
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: South Korea is 90.1% more expensive than Cebu without rent, and 65.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: South Korea is 88.6% more expensive than Cebu without rent, and 82% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Korea
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.67 ₩10.3K
$3.03 ₱190
153.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.23 ₩60.6K
$23.48 ₱1,473
92.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.43 ₩8,617
$4.09 ₱256
57.21%
Cappuccino
$3.92 ₩5,254
$2.52 ₱158
55.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ₩2,194
$1.54 ₱96.9
6.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ₩1,115
$0.49 ₱30.98
69.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.63 ₩4,863
$1.79 ₱112
102.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 ₩6,098
$2.26 ₱142
101.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Korea
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.09 ₩2,804
$1.95 ₱122
7.18%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₩4,051
$1.43 ₱89.7
111.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.38 ₩4,534
$1.02 ₱63.8
231.37%
Eggs
$3.22 ₩4,311
$2.06 ₱129
56.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.53 ₩18.1K
$9.81 ₱615
37.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.81 ₩11.8K
$4.61 ₱289
91.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.06 ₩34.9K
$7.70 ₱483
238.44%
Apples (1kg)
$8.59 ₩11.5K
$3.31 ₱207
159.52%
Banana (1kg)
$3.38 ₩4,535
$1.45 ₱90.9
133.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.23 ₩8,345
$2.36 ₱148
163.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.09 ₩8,166
$1.54 ₱96.4
295.45%
Potato (1kg)
$3.97 ₩5,319
$2.36 ₱148
68.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 ₩3,645
$1.99 ₱125
36.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.60 ₩3,484
$1.15 ₱72.1
126.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 ₩1,608
$0.67 ₱42.15
79.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₩4,531
$3.00 ₱188
12.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.90 ₩21.3K
$6.35 ₱398
150.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 ₩2,706
$1.31 ₱81.9
54.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 ₩3,866
$1.73 ₱108
67.05%
🚌 Getting Around
South Korea
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.14 ₩1,529
$0.25 ₱15.78
356.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.85 ₩62.8K
$12.65 ₱793
270.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 ₩4,599
$0.74 ₱46.32
363.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₩860
$0.21 ₱13.11
204.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.10 ₩12.2K
$4.33 ₱271
110.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 ₩1,852
$1.33 ₱83.5
3.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K ₩39.9M
$21.8K ₱1.4M
36.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K ₩40.1M
$19.4K ₱1.2M
54.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Korea
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 ₩275.7K
$121 ₱7,563
70.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.21 ₩52.5K
$14.45 ₱907
171.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.22 ₩31.1K
$28.29 ₱1,774
-17.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Korea
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 ₩70.7K
$32.68 ₱2,050
61.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.59 ₩22.2K
$6.39 ₱401
159.62%
Cinema Ticket
$10.99 ₩14.7K
$5.46 ₱342
101.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Korea
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$906 ₩1.2M
$273 ₱17.1K
231.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K ₩31.2M
$8,156 ₱511.5K
185.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Korea
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 ₩76.0K
$49.57 ₱3,109
14.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.14 ₩57.8K
$24.87 ₱1,560
73.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 ₩106.6K
$76.6 ₱4,804
3.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 ₩128.8K
$59.3 ₱3,717
62.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Korea
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$593 ₩794.3K
$506 ₱31.7K
17.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$423 ₩566.8K
$309 ₱19.4K
36.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,531 ₩2.1M
$1,052 ₱66.0K
45.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$922 ₩1.2M
$619 ₱38.8K
48.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$16.5K ₩22.1M
$2,915 ₱182.9K
464.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,341 ₩11.2M
$1,867 ₱117.1K
346.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Korea
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,293 ₩3.1M
$341 ₱21.4K
572.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.23
7.2
-41.25%

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

Last update for South Korea: October 4, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
South Korea
$449
Cebu
$210 53.1% $238
Accommodation & Living
South Korea
$423
Cebu
$309 26.9% $114
Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Korea
$268
Cebu
$163 39.1% $105
Eating Out
South Korea
$165
Cebu
$88 46.4% $76
Clothing & Footwear
South Korea
$124
Cebu
$95 23.7% $29
Sport & Entertainment
South Korea
$75
Cebu
$44 41.7% $31
Getting Around
South Korea
$58
Cebu
$15 73.4% $43
Good to know
🇰🇷 South Korea
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
22:04 10:04 PM
21:04 9:04 PM
1 h behind South Korea
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
51,466,201
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,340 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.46 USD). 1 EUR = 1,502 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.66 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.28 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • South Korea Cebu 3,050 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • South Korea
  • 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

South Korea vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries

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