Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between The Hague and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $934 a month against $2,685 in The Hague, rent and utilities included – about $21,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

The Hague
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,685
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$934
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,685 in The Hague versus $934 in Cebu.

  • The Hague $2,685
  • Cebu $934

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,047 in The Hague versus $1,415 in Cebu.

  • The Hague $4,047
  • Cebu $1,415

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,409 in The Hague versus $1,896 in Cebu.

  • The Hague $5,409
  • Cebu $1,896

Living in The Hague is roughly 187% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: The Hague is 100% above, Cebu is 30% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
The Hague
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.22 €19.83
$3.03 ₱190
633.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.9 €80.2
$23.48 ₱1,473
282.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.31 €13.66
$4.09 ₱256
274.33%
Cappuccino
$4.32 €3.86
$2.52 ₱158
71.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 €3.80
$1.54 ₱96.9
176.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 €3.74
$0.49 ₱30.98
755.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.14 €6.37
$1.79 ₱112
298.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.81 €6.97
$2.26 ₱142
245.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
The Hague
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 €1.33
$1.95 ₱122
-23.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 €2.03
$1.43 ₱89.7
59.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 €2.26
$1.02 ₱63.8
148.04%
Eggs
$4.55 €4.06
$2.06 ₱129
120.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.90 €13.30
$9.81 ₱615
51.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.82 €11.44
$4.61 ₱289
178.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.01 €16.97
$7.70 ₱483
146.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 €2.35
$3.31 ₱207
-20.54%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 €1.97
$1.45 ₱90.9
52.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 €1.83
$2.36 ₱148
-13.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.58 €3.20
$1.54 ₱96.4
132.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.36 €1.22
$2.36 ₱148
-42.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.29 €1.15
$1.99 ₱125
-35.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 €1.06
$1.15 ₱72.1
2.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 €0.78
$0.67 ₱42.15
29.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.60 €13.03
$3.00 ₱188
386.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.81 €5.18
$6.35 ₱398
-8.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 €1.15
$1.31 ₱81.9
-1.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 €1.69
$1.73 ₱108
9.25%
🚌 Getting Around
The Hague
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.43 €3.95
$0.25 ₱15.78
1672.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.7 €83.6
$12.65 ₱793
640.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.62 €4.12
$0.74 ₱46.32
524.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.44 €3.07
$0.21 ₱13.11
1538.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.21 €30.53
$4.33 ₱271
690.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.63 €2.34
$1.33 ₱83.5
97.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.2K €36.8K
$21.8K ₱1.4M
89.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €35.0K
$19.4K ₱1.2M
102.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Hague
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$280 €250
$121 ₱7,563
132.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.43 €25.37
$14.45 ₱907
96.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.2 €48.40
$28.29 ₱1,774
91.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.2 €44.82
$32.68 ₱2,050
53.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.51 €21.87
$6.39 ₱401
283.57%
Cinema Ticket
$17.03 €15.20
$5.46 ₱342
211.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
The Hague
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,418 €2,157
$273 ₱17.1K
784.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K €10.6K
$8,156 ₱511.5K
45.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.3 €83.3
$49.57 ₱3,109
88.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.31 €38.65
$24.87 ₱1,560
74.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 €94.5
$76.6 ₱4,804
38.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 €124
$59.3 ₱3,717
134.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
The Hague
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,666 €1,487
$506 ₱31.7K
229.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,300 €1,160
$309 ₱19.4K
320.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,799 €2,498
$1,052 ₱66.0K
166.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,275 €2,030
$619 ₱38.8K
267.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,156 €5,494
$2,915 ₱182.9K
111.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,536 €4,048
$1,867 ₱117.1K
142.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
The Hague
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,034 €3,600
$341 ₱21.4K
1082.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.4
7.2
-52.78%

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

Last update for The Hague: October 3, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
The Hague
$1.3K
Cebu
$309 76.2% $990
Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Hague
$363
Cebu
$163 55% $199
Eating Out
The Hague
$361
Cebu
$88 75.5% $272
Groceries & Markets
The Hague
$328
Cebu
$210 35.9% $118
Clothing & Footwear
The Hague
$172
Cebu
$95 44.8% $77
Getting Around
The Hague
$133
Cebu
$15 88.4% $118
Sport & Entertainment
The Hague
$84
Cebu
$44 48.3% $41

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,666 in The Hague and $506 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

The Hague pays 1083% 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: $90.0 in The Hague vs $23.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $328 vs $210 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇱 The Hague
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
08:08 8:08 AM
14:08 2:08 PM
6 h ahead of The Hague
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
562,839
964,169
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.35 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • The Hague Cebu 11,020 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • The Hague
  • 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
The Hague vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than The Hague?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and clothing. The 187% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: The Hague or Cebu?
Average pay runs 1083% higher in The Hague, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between The Hague and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,666 in The Hague versus $506 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in The Hague and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $2,685 per month in The Hague versus $934 in Cebu – a 187% 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 641% less than in The Hague. 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 The Hague or in Cebu?
At $934 in Cebu versus $2,685 in The Hague, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in The Hague. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is The Hague or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in The Hague, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, The Hague or Cebu?
Safety-wise, The Hague 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 187% less than in The Hague. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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