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Cebu vs Madrid cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ต๐ญ Cebu
๐ช๐ธ Madrid
At a glance
- Where Cebu is clearly cheaper: Haircut (87%โ), Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (87%โ), Transit (87%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Madrid is easier to travel (1.8 vs 2.8). Biggest gap: getting around โ Cebu 3 vs Madrid 1. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Cebu | Madrid | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โฑ 200$3.51 | โฌ 14$16.3 | Cebu โ78% |
| Street food1 item | โฑ 60$1.05 | โฌ 5$5.81 | Cebu โ82% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โฑ 550$9.65 | โฌ 30$34.9 | Cebu โ72% |
| Coffeeone cup | โฑ 160$2.81 | โฌ 2.5$2.91 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | โฑ 85$1.49 | โฌ 4$4.65 | Cebu โ68% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โฑ 250$4.39 | โฌ 9$10.5 | Cebu โ58% |
| Bottled water | โฑ 22$0.39 | โฌ 1.2$1.4 | Cebu โ72% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โฑ 45$0.79 | โฌ 1.8$2.09 | Cebu โ62% |
| Taxi5 km in town | โฑ 150$2.63 | โฌ 11$12.8 | Cebu โ79% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โฑ 60$1.05 | โฌ 7$8.14 | Cebu โ87% |
| Transitone ride | โฑ 13$0.23 | โฌ 1.5$1.74 | Cebu โ87% |
| Scooter rentalper day | โฑ 450$7.89 | โฌ 35$40.7 | Cebu โ81% |
| Hotel night3-star | โฑ 2,100$36.8 | โฌ 120$140 | Cebu โ74% |
| Studio rent (month) | โฑ 20,000$351 | โฌ 1,250$1,453 | Cebu โ76% |
| Laundry | โฑ 40$0.7 | โฌ 3$3.49 | Cebu โ80% |
| SIM card1 week data | โฑ 300$5.26 | โฌ 15$17.4 | Cebu โ70% |
| Haircutcut | โฑ 150$2.63 | โฌ 18$20.9 | Cebu โ87% |
| Massage1 hour | โฑ 450$7.89 | โฌ 50$58.1 | Cebu โ86% |
| Half-day tourper person | โฑ 1,800$31.6 | โฌ 35$40.7 | Cebu โ22% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โฑ 250$4.39 | โฌ 15$17.4 | Cebu โ75% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Cebu or Madrid?
Cebu is 73% cheaper than Madrid. Daily budget $69.8 vs $267; a month $1,465 vs $5,187.
Which is easier to travel, Cebu or Madrid?
Madrid is easier: Madrid 1.8/5 vs Cebu 2.8/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Cebu and Madrid?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Cebu is about $1,465 and Madrid about $5,187 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.