For one person, living is cheaper in Taraz: $625 a month against $943 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 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 Taraz and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $625 in Taraz versus $943 in Cebu.
Taraz $625
Cebu $943
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,000 in Taraz versus $1,437 in Cebu.
Taraz $1,000
Cebu $1,437
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,374 in Taraz versus $1,930 in Cebu.
Taraz $1,374
Cebu $1,930
🌍
Living in Taraz costs roughly 34% less than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Taraz54% lower, Cebu30% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Taraz
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.87₸3,997
$3.88₱244
128.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.34₸10.1K
$23.22₱1,462
-3.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.51₸2,934
$3.90₱246
66.92%
Cappuccino
$1.58₸711
$2.56₱161
-38.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84₸380
$1.60₱101
-47.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43₸193
$0.51₱32.02
-15.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.13₸507
$1.76₱111
-35.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80₸812
$2.15₱136
-16.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taraz
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14₸512
$1.99₱125
-42.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.44₸196
$1.37₱86.3
-67.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34₸604
$0.95₱59.8
41.05%
Eggs
$1.65₸743
$2.02₱127
-18.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03₸4,519
$9.63₱606
4.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.29₸2,383
$4.35₱274
21.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.62₸3,881
$7.70₱485
11.95%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₸546
$3.30₱207
-63.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12₸954
$1.27₱79.7
66.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55₸1,148
$2.34₱147
8.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35₸610
$1.51₱95.3
-10.60%
Potato(1kg)
$0.51₸228
$2.23₱141
-77.13%
Onion(1kg)
$0.41₸184
$1.93₱122
-78.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91₸408
$1.18₱74.4
-22.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81₸365
$0.65₱40.92
24.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.48₸1,118
$2.89₱182
-14.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.37₸1,968
$6.35₱400
-31.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03₸464
$1.27₱80.0
-18.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57₸706
$1.64₱103
-4.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Taraz
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20₸89.0
$0.23₱14.42
-13.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$12.24₱770
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.84₸380
$0.82₱51.5
2.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37₸167
$0.20₱12.56
85.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.92₸1,764
$4.32₱272
-9.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.68₸308
$1.38₱86.7
-50.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K₸12.7M
$21.2K₱1.3M
32.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K₸12.3M
$19.3K₱1.2M
42.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taraz
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.45₸20.9K
$124₱7,814
-62.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.77₸3,949
$15.93₱1,003
-44.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.66₸3,901
$28.07₱1,767
-69.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taraz
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.64₸16.5K
$33.41₱2,103
9.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.40₱403
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.31₸1,943
$5.85₱368
-26.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taraz
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$57.2₸25.7K
$271₱17.0K
-78.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$8,060₱507.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taraz
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.06₸11.7K
$48.31₱3,041
-46.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.42₸15.1K
$24.56₱1,546
36.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108₸48.8K
$77.1₱4,855
40.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.9₸23.4K
$56.5₱3,557
-8.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taraz
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$261₸117.5K
$495₱31.2K
-47.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$111₸50.2K
$322₱20.2K
-65.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$449₸202.4K
$990₱62.3K
-54.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$201₸90.6K
$628₱39.5K
-67.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$843₸379.8K
$4,459₱280.6K
-81.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$600₸270.3K
$3,030₱190.7K
-80.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taraz
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$271₸122.2K
$343₱21.6K
-20.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.83
7.2
147.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Taraz: October 31, 2026
Last update for Cebu: November 2, 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
Taraz
$179 28.6%
Cebu
$206 21.8% ↑ 15.2%$27
🍽Eating Out
Taraz
$124 19.8%
Cebu
$95 10.1% ↓ 23.3%$29
🏠Accommodation & Living
Taraz
$111 17.8%
Cebu
$322 34.1% ↑ 189%$210
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Taraz
$99 15.8%
Cebu
$93 9.9% ↓ 6%$5.9
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taraz
$64 10.2%
Cebu
$168 17.8% ↑ 163%$104
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Taraz
$45 7.2%
Cebu
$45 4.8% ↓ 0.4%$0.2
🚌Getting Around
Taraz
$3.5 * 0.6%
Cebu
$15 1.6% ↑ 329%$11
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Taraz
$417 30.4%
Cebu
$482 25% ↑ 15.4%$64
🍽Eating Out
Taraz
$366 26.6%
Cebu
$302 15.7% ↓ 17.4%$64
🏠Accommodation & Living
Taraz
$201 14.6%
Cebu
$628 32.6% ↑ 212%$427
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Taraz
$220 16%
Cebu
$207 10.7% ↓ 6%$13
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taraz
$73 5.3%
Cebu
$184 9.5% ↑ 153%$111
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Taraz
$91 * 6.6%
Cebu
$97 5% ↑ 6.7%$6.1
🚌Getting Around
Taraz
$7.4 * 0.5%
Cebu
$30 1.6% ↑ 312%$23
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $261 in Taraz and $495 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cebu pays 26% 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: $22 in Taraz vs $23 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $206 per month, with Taraz 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
Taraz vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Taraz cheaper than Cebu?
Taraz is about 34% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, utilities, and transport. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Taraz or Cebu?
On paper, salaries run 21% lower in Taraz. 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 Taraz and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $261 in Taraz versus $495 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Taraz and in Cebu?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Cebu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Taraz and in Cebu?
All in, you’ll spend $625 per month in Taraz versus $943 in Cebu – Taraz is about 34% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $800 a realistic budget for living in Taraz or in Cebu?
At $625 in Taraz versus $943 in Cebu, a $800 budget is realistic in Taraz but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Taraz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Taraz or in Cebu?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Taraz or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Taraz and Cebu are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Taraz wins on affordability, Cebu on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.