For one person, living is cheaper in Uman: $818 a month against $915 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Cebu outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Uman and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $818 in Uman versus $915 in Cebu.
Uman $818
Cebu $915
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,254 in Uman versus $1,418 in Cebu.
Uman $1,254
Cebu $1,418
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,690 in Uman versus $1,921 in Cebu.
Uman $1,690
Cebu $1,921
🌍
Living in Uman costs roughly 11% less than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Uman40% lower, Cebu33% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Uman
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.88₴354
$3.05₱192
158.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.01₴1,616
$24.00₱1,511
50.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.82₴261
$3.99₱251
45.86%
Cappuccino
$1.60₴72.0
$2.50₱157
-36.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85₴38.33
$1.54₱97.1
-44.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₴34.18
$0.50₱31.37
52.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74₴78.2
$1.78₱112
-2.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16₴97.1
$2.17₱136
-0.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uman
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30₴58.6
$2.00₱126
-35.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78₴35.01
$1.37₱86.2
-43.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₴83.3
$1.03₱64.9
79.61%
Eggs
$2.07₴93.1
$2.03₱128
1.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.83₴441
$10.20₱642
-3.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.38₴242
$4.45₱280
20.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.87₴308
$7.67₱483
-10.43%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₴52.7
$3.31₱208
-64.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41₴63.2
$1.46₱91.8
-3.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95₴87.6
$2.32₱146
-15.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.17₴142
$1.49₱94.0
112.75%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78₴34.99
$2.34₱147
-66.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51₴22.95
$1.94₱122
-73.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61₴72.3
$1.16₱73.0
38.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56₴25.09
$0.68₱42.89
-17.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06₴138
$2.99₱188
2.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.54₴249
$6.24₱393
-11.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77₴34.38
$1.23₱77.3
-37.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46₴65.4
$1.73₱109
-15.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Uman
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34₴15.28
$0.23₱14.36
47.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.62₴477
$12.34₱777
-13.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.82₴81.8
$0.79₱49.96
130.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34₴15.42
$0.22₱13.86
54.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.53₴203
$4.54₱286
-0.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74₴77.9
$1.32₱82.9
31.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K₴1.3M
$21.0K₱1.3M
40.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K₴1.1M
$19.4K₱1.2M
30.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uman
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115₴5,178
$119₱7,464
-2.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.62₴252
$14.22₱896
-60.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.56₴295
$27.47₱1,730
-76.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uman
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.36₴1,093
$32.31₱2,034
-24.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.26₴595
$6.50₱409
104.00%
Cinema Ticket
$5.64₴253
$5.40₱340
4.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uman
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$255₴11.4K
$276₱17.4K
-7.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,725₴167.2K
$7,866₱495.3K
-52.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uman
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.2₴2,926
$49.37₱3,108
32.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.14₴1,937
$24.58₱1,548
75.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.3₴3,964
$76.6₱4,825
15.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103₴4,633
$58.9₱3,706
75.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uman
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$268₴12.0K
$503₱31.7K
-46.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$199₴8,951
$305₱19.2K
-34.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$579₴26.0K
$1,075₱67.7K
-46.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288₴12.9K
$632₱39.8K
-54.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,075₴48.3K
$2,870₱180.7K
-62.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$753₴33.8K
$1,877₱118.2K
-59.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uman
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$271₴12.1K
$336₱21.1K
-19.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
21.17
7.2
194.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Uman: October 19, 2026
Last update for Cebu: October 19, 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.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Uman
$199 24.4%
Cebu
$305 33.3% ↑ 52.7%$105
🛒Groceries & Markets
Uman
$186 22.7%
Cebu
$210 22.9% ↑ 12.8%$24
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Uman
$135 16.5%
Cebu
$94 10.3% ↓ 30.1%$41
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uman
$128 15.6%
Cebu
$160 17.5% ↑ 25.6%$33
🍽Eating Out
Uman
$119 14.6%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↓ 26.4%$31
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Uman
$36 4.4%
Cebu
$43 4.7% ↑ 20.9%$7.5
🚌Getting Around
Uman
$16 1.9%
Cebu
$15 1.7% ↓ 2.4%$0.4
🏠Accommodation & Living
Uman
$288 17%
Cebu
$632 32.9% ↑ 120%$344
🛒Groceries & Markets
Uman
$431 25.5%
Cebu
$491 25.6% ↑ 14%$60
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Uman
$300 17.7%
Cebu
$209 10.9% ↓ 30.1%$90
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uman
$133 7.9%
Cebu
$174 9.1% ↑ 31%$41
🍽Eating Out
Uman
$422 25%
Cebu
$290 15.1% ↓ 31.2%$132
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Uman
$85 5%
Cebu
$93 4.8% ↑ 9.7%$8.2
🚌Getting Around
Uman
$32 1.9%
Cebu
$31 1.6% ↓ 3.1%$1
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $268 in Uman and $503 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cebu pays 24% 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: $36.00 in Uman vs $24.00 in Cebu. Groceries flip the comparison at $186 vs $210, with Uman 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
Uman vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Uman?
Uman is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and utilities. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Uman or Cebu?
On paper, salaries run 24% 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 Uman and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $268 in Uman versus $503 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Uman and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $818 per month in Uman versus $915 in Cebu – a 12% 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 Uman runs roughly 16% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Uman or Cebu?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Uman gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Uman or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Uman 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, Uman or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Uman 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 Uman gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.