Measurement units Temperature, distance and clock format
Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Uppsala and Cebu
For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,978 in Uppsala, rent and utilities included – about $12,700 less a year. Other living expenses 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 Uppsala and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,978 in Uppsala versus $918 in Cebu.
Uppsala $1,978
Cebu $918
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,051 in Uppsala versus $1,409 in Cebu.
Uppsala $3,051
Cebu $1,409
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,124 in Uppsala versus $1,900 in Cebu.
Uppsala $4,124
Cebu $1,900
🌍
Living in Uppsala is roughly 115% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Uppsala is 46% above, Cebu is 32% below.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Uppsala
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.90SEK 148
$3.09₱194
382.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.0SEK 802
$24.22₱1,525
234.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.87SEK 97.8
$3.92₱247
151.79%
Cappuccino
$4.98SEK 49.39
$2.51₱158
98.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05SEK 30.25
$1.59₱100
91.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40SEK 23.74
$0.53₱33.43
352.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.96SEK 78.9
$1.78₱112
347.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.87SEK 97.8
$2.17₱137
354.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uppsala
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81SEK 17.91
$1.92₱121
-5.73%
White Bread(500g)
$2.78SEK 27.57
$1.36₱85.4
104.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.59SEK 45.48
$1.01₱63.5
354.46%
Eggs
$5.05SEK 50.1
$2.03₱128
148.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.12SEK 100
$9.86₱621
2.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.77SEK 146
$4.39₱277
236.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.86SEK 177
$7.60₱479
135.00%
Apples(1kg)
$4.18SEK 41.42
$3.30₱208
26.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.73SEK 27.06
$1.39₱87.8
96.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.49SEK 34.63
$2.33₱147
49.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.12SEK 50.7
$1.50₱94.3
241.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.94SEK 19.20
$2.36₱149
-17.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.70SEK 16.80
$1.90₱119
-10.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64SEK 26.21
$1.19₱74.9
121.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28SEK 12.68
$0.63₱39.71
103.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.96SEK 78.9
$3.00₱189
165.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.91SEK 98.2
$6.03₱379
64.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47SEK 24.51
$1.23₱77.7
100.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52SEK 24.94
$1.75₱110
44.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Uppsala
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.92SEK 38.80
$0.25₱15.86
1468.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$111SEK 1,103
$12.64₱796
780.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.33SEK 52.8
$0.77₱48.62
592.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32SEK 13.13
$0.23₱14.53
473.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.3SEK 607
$4.46₱281
1273.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77SEK 17.54
$1.31₱82.8
35.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2KSEK 329.1K
$21.2K₱1.3M
56.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KSEK 318.3K
$19.1K₱1.2M
67.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uppsala
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109SEK 1,077
$120₱7,569
-9.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.95SEK 158
$14.00₱882
13.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.42SEK 470
$27.54₱1,734
72.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uppsala
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.13SEK 388
$32.33₱2,035
21.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.27SEK 231
$6.65₱419
249.92%
Cinema Ticket
$18.61SEK 184
$5.65₱356
229.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uppsala
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$126SEK 1,248
$275₱17.3K
-54.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$7,918₱498.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uppsala
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105SEK 1,037
$49.33₱3,106
112.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.48SEK 480
$25.24₱1,589
92.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.4SEK 935
$77.0₱4,846
22.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$200SEK 1,982
$57.2₱3,601
249.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uppsala
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$892SEK 8,836
$500₱31.5K
78.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$707SEK 7,009
$309₱19.4K
129.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,750SEK 17.3K
$1,078₱67.9K
62.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,138SEK 11.3K
$615₱38.7K
84.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,186SEK 51.4K
$2,886₱181.7K
79.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,595SEK 25.7K
$1,917₱120.7K
35.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uppsala
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,008SEK 29.8K
$346₱21.8K
769.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.8
7.2
-47.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Uppsala: October 10, 2026
Last update for Cebu: October 12, 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
Uppsala
$707 35.8%
Cebu
$309 33.6% ↓ 56.3%$399
🛒Groceries & Markets
Uppsala
$391 19.8%
Cebu
$206 22.4% ↓ 47.4%$186
🍽Eating Out
Uppsala
$290 14.7%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↓ 69.6%$202
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Uppsala
$201 10.2%
Cebu
$94 10.2% ↓ 53.4%$107
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uppsala
$172 8.7%
Cebu
$162 17.6% ↓ 6%$10
🚌Getting Around
Uppsala
$139 7%
Cebu
$16 1.7% ↓ 88.8%$123
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Uppsala
$76 3.9%
Cebu
$44 4.8% ↓ 42.9%$33
🏠Accommodation & Living
Uppsala
$1.1K 27.6%
Cebu
$615 32.4% ↓ 45.9%$523
🛒Groceries & Markets
Uppsala
$911 22.1%
Cebu
$483 25.4% ↓ 47%$428
🍽Eating Out
Uppsala
$978 23.7%
Cebu
$292 15.4% ↓ 70.1%$686
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Uppsala
$448 10.9%
Cebu
$209 11% ↓ 53.4%$239
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uppsala
$188 4.6%
Cebu
$176 9.3% ↓ 6.5%$12
🚌Getting Around
Uppsala
$286 6.9%
Cebu
$32 1.7% ↓ 88.9%$254
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Uppsala
$176 4.3%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↓ 46.6%$82
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $892 in Uppsala and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Uppsala pays 769% 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: $81.0 in Uppsala vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $391 vs $206 per month, with Cebu 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
Uppsala vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Uppsala?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 115% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Uppsala or Cebu?
Average pay runs 769% higher in Uppsala, 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 Uppsala and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $892 in Uppsala versus $500 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Uppsala and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $1,978 per month in Uppsala versus $918 in Cebu – a 115% 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 780% less than in Uppsala. 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 Uppsala or in Cebu?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,978 in Uppsala, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Uppsala. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Uppsala or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Uppsala, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Uppsala or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Uppsala 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 115% less than in Uppsala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.