Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Veles and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in Veles: $768 a month against $918 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Veles
🇲🇰 North Macedonia
$768
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $768 in Veles versus $918 in Cebu.

  • Veles $768
  • Cebu $918

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Veles versus $1,409 in Cebu.

  • Veles $1,139
  • Cebu $1,409

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,510 in Veles versus $1,900 in Cebu.

  • Veles $1,510
  • Cebu $1,900

Living in Veles costs roughly 16% less than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Veles 43% lower, Cebu 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Veles
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.65 MKD 472
$3.09 ₱194
179.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.00 MKD 982
$24.22 ₱1,525
-25.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.43 MKD 296
$3.92 ₱247
38.52%
Cappuccino
$1.50 MKD 82.0
$2.51 ₱158
-40.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 MKD 72.0
$1.59 ₱100
-16.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 MKD 43.42
$0.53 ₱33.43
50.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.48 MKD 80.7
$1.78 ₱112
-16.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 MKD 165
$2.17 ₱137
39.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Veles
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 MKD 57.9
$1.92 ₱121
-44.79%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 MKD 27.74
$1.36 ₱85.4
-62.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.45 MKD 79.2
$1.01 ₱63.5
43.56%
Eggs
$2.48 MKD 135
$2.03 ₱128
22.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.96 MKD 162
$9.86 ₱621
-69.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.07 MKD 222
$4.39 ₱277
-7.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.11 MKD 824
$7.60 ₱479
98.82%
Apples (1kg)
$1.41 MKD 77.0
$3.30 ₱208
-57.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MKD 77.9
$1.39 ₱87.8
2.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.38 MKD 75.2
$2.33 ₱147
-40.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.88 MKD 103
$1.50 ₱94.3
25.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 MKD 46.16
$2.36 ₱149
-63.98%
Onion (1kg)
$0.83 MKD 45.33
$1.90 ₱119
-56.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 MKD 31.96
$1.19 ₱74.9
-50.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 MKD 32.06
$0.63 ₱39.71
-6.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.33 MKD 182
$3.00 ₱189
11.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.44 MKD 351
$6.03 ₱379
6.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 MKD 57.8
$1.23 ₱77.7
-13.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 MKD 81.0
$1.75 ₱110
-14.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Veles
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 MKD 43.05
$0.25 ₱15.86
216.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.23 MKD 1,267
$12.64 ₱796
83.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.11 MKD 60.3
$0.77 ₱48.62
44.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 MKD 33.44
$0.23 ₱14.53
165.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.43 MKD 405
$4.46 ₱281
66.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 MKD 79.8
$1.31 ₱82.8
11.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K MKD 1.5M
$21.2K ₱1.3M
26.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K MKD 1.4M
$19.1K ₱1.2M
29.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Veles
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$108 MKD 5,901
$120 ₱7,569
-10.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.34 MKD 946
$14.00 ₱882
23.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.02 MKD 655
$27.54 ₱1,734
-56.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Veles
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.47 MKD 1,389
$32.33 ₱2,035
-21.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.82 MKD 972
$6.65 ₱419
167.97%
Cinema Ticket
$3.38 MKD 184
$5.65 ₱356
-40.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Veles
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$221 MKD 12.1K
$275 ₱17.3K
-19.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,716 MKD 311.8K
$7,918 ₱498.5K
-27.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Veles
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.99 MKD 1,199
$49.33 ₱3,106
-55.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.42 MKD 1,005
$25.24 ₱1,589
-27.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.2 MKD 3,940
$77.0 ₱4,846
-6.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 MKD 5,987
$57.2 ₱3,601
91.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Veles
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$218 MKD 11.9K
$500 ₱31.5K
-56.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$170 MKD 9,300
$309 ₱19.4K
-44.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$290 MKD 15.8K
$1,078 ₱67.9K
-73.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$236 MKD 12.9K
$615 ₱38.7K
-61.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,174 MKD 64.0K
$2,886 ₱181.7K
-59.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$933 MKD 50.9K
$1,917 ₱120.7K
-51.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Veles
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$594 MKD 32.4K
$346 ₱21.8K
71.78%
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 Veles: October 12, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Veles
$171
Cebu
$206 20.2% $35
Accommodation & Living
Veles
$170
Cebu
$309 81.2% $138
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Veles
$138
Cebu
$162 17.6% $24
Eating Out
Veles
$125
Cebu
$88 29.7% $37
Clothing & Footwear
Veles
$100
Cebu
$94 6.1% $6.1
Sport & Entertainment
Veles
$32
Cebu
$44 35.3% $11
Getting Around
Veles
$31
Cebu
$16 49% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $218 in Veles and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Veles pays 72% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Veles vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $206 per month, with Veles cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇰 Veles
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
06:03 6:03 AM
12:03 12:03 PM
6 h ahead of Veles
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
43,716
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to MKD – North Macedonian Denar Converter

North Macedonian Denar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 54.55 MKD (100 MKD = 1.83 USD). 1 EUR = 61.33 MKD (100 MKD = 1.63 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Veles Cebu 10,230 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Veles
  • 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
Veles vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Veles?
Veles is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and utilities. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Veles or Cebu?
Average pay runs 72% higher in Veles, 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 Veles and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $218 in Veles 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 Veles and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $768 per month in Veles versus $918 in Cebu – a 20% 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 Veles runs roughly 84% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $800 enough for either Veles or Cebu?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Veles gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Veles or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Veles 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, Veles or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Veles 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 Veles gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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