Cebu vs Cusco: cost of living for digital nomads
Cebu, Philippines and Cusco, Peru, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Cusco is about 1% cheaper than Cebu for a month of nomad living ($1,085 vs $1,100).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $420 in Cusco against $450 in Cebu.
- Both score 6/10 on safety.
- Cebu is tropical; Cusco is temperate.
Cebu wins 0 of the measured lines; Cusco wins 4.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Cebu or Cusco?
Cusco is cheaper: about $1,085/month against $1,100/month in Cebu, roughly 1% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Cusco?
Cebu and Cusco score the same on safety, 6/10 each.
Which has faster internet, Cebu or Cusco?
Cebu and Cusco have about the same typical internet speed, 80 Mbps.
| Line | Cebu | Cusco |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,100 | $1,085 |
| Rent | $450 | $420 |
| Food | $300 | $300 |
| Transport | $50 | $35 |
| Coworking | $100 | $85 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 80 | 80 |
| Climate | tropical | temperate |
| City size | metro | mid |
| Setting | island | mountain |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 7/10 |
Compare Cebu with
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Cebu November 4, 2026, Cusco September 11, 2026.