For one person, living is cheaper in Cebu: $918 a month against $1,943 in Zejtun, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 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 Zejtun and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,943 in Zejtun versus $918 in Cebu.
Zejtun $1,943
Cebu $918
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,975 in Zejtun versus $1,409 in Cebu.
Zejtun $2,975
Cebu $1,409
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,007 in Zejtun versus $1,900 in Cebu.
Zejtun $4,007
Cebu $1,900
🌍
Living in Zejtun is roughly 112% more expensive than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Zejtun is 44% above, Cebu is 32% below.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Zejtun
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.67€20.17
$3.09₱194
633.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.8€79.0
$24.22₱1,525
266.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.25€11.79
$3.92₱247
238.01%
Cappuccino
$2.20€1.95
$2.51₱158
-12.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€2.06
$1.59₱100
45.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.76
$0.53₱33.43
62.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.43€4.83
$1.78₱112
205.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.55€5.83
$2.17₱137
201.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zejtun
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.17
$1.92₱121
-31.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.39€1.24
$1.36₱85.4
2.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.53€3.14
$1.01₱63.5
249.50%
Eggs
$4.32€3.85
$2.03₱128
112.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.46€9.31
$9.86₱621
6.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.05€10.72
$4.39₱277
174.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.86€15.88
$7.60₱479
135.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.75€3.33
$3.30₱208
13.64%
Banana(1kg)
$2.78€2.47
$1.39₱87.8
100.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.86€3.43
$2.33₱147
65.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.70€3.29
$1.50₱94.3
146.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87€1.66
$2.36₱149
-20.76%
Onion(1kg)
$3.43€3.05
$1.90₱119
80.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.25€2.00
$1.19₱74.9
89.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.39
$0.63₱39.71
147.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.26€5.57
$3.00₱189
108.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.99€5.32
$6.03₱379
-0.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.13
$1.23₱77.7
94.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26€2.01
$1.75₱110
29.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Zejtun
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.42€2.15
$0.25₱15.86
868.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$12.64₱796
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.85€3.42
$0.77₱48.62
400.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.76€1.57
$0.23₱14.53
665.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.12€29.46
$4.46₱281
642.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49€1.32
$1.31₱82.8
13.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K€24.5K
$21.2K₱1.3M
29.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K€34.7K
$19.1K₱1.2M
103.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zejtun
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$55.9€49.70
$120₱7,569
-53.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.65€20.14
$14.00₱882
61.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.53€26.27
$27.54₱1,734
7.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zejtun
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2€54.5
$32.33₱2,035
89.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.65₱419
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.93€8.83
$5.65₱356
75.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zejtun
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$275€245
$275₱17.3K
-0.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.3K€10.9K
$7,918₱498.5K
55.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zejtun
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2€50.0
$49.33₱3,106
13.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.62€24.57
$25.24₱1,589
9.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113€100
$77.0₱4,846
46.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€115
$57.2₱3,601
126.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zejtun
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,144€1,018
$500₱31.5K
129.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$942€838
$309₱19.4K
205.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,563€1,390
$1,078₱67.9K
44.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,473€1,310
$615₱38.7K
139.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,497€4,000
$2,886₱181.7K
55.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,627€2,337
$1,917₱120.7K
37.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zejtun
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,212€1,078
$346₱21.8K
250.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.05
7.2
-43.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zejtun: October 12, 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
Zejtun
$942 48.5%
Cebu
$309 33.6% ↓ 67.2%$633
🛒Groceries & Markets
Zejtun
$342 17.6%
Cebu
$206 22.4% ↓ 39.8%$136
🍽Eating Out
Zejtun
$300 15.5%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↓ 70.6%$212
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Zejtun
$147 7.6%
Cebu
$94 10.2% ↓ 36%$53
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zejtun
$108 5.6%
Cebu
$162 17.6% ↑ 49.7%$54
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Zejtun
$81 4.2%
Cebu
$44 4.8% ↓ 46.2%$37
🚌Getting Around
Zejtun
$22 * 1.2%
Cebu
$16 1.7% ↓ 30.3%$6.8
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Zejtun
$1.5K 36.8%
Cebu
$615 32.4% ↓ 58.2%$857
🛒Groceries & Markets
Zejtun
$806 20.1%
Cebu
$483 25.4% ↓ 40.1%$323
🍽Eating Out
Zejtun
$1.1K 26.5%
Cebu
$292 15.4% ↓ 72.4%$768
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Zejtun
$326 8.1%
Cebu
$209 11% ↓ 36%$117
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zejtun
$131 3.3%
Cebu
$176 9.3% ↑ 34.5%$45
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Zejtun
$162 * 4.1%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↓ 42.1%$68
🚌Getting Around
Zejtun
$50 * 1.2%
Cebu
$32 1.7% ↓ 36.1%$18
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 $1,144 in Zejtun and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zejtun pays 250% 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: $89.0 in Zejtun vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $342 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
Zejtun vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Zejtun?
Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 112% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Zejtun or Cebu?
Average pay runs 250% higher in Zejtun, 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 Zejtun and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,144 in Zejtun versus $500 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Zejtun and in Cebu?
Supermarket bills run roughly 66% higher in Zejtun. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Zejtun and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $1,943 per month in Zejtun versus $918 in Cebu – a 112% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Zejtun or in Cebu?
At $918 in Cebu versus $1,943 in Zejtun, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Zejtun. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Zejtun or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Zejtun, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Zejtun or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Zejtun 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 112% less than in Zejtun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.