Cost of Studying in Cebu【Complete 2026 Updated Guide】

The cost of studying in Cebu varies depending on the length of your stay, the type of school, the type of room and whether meals are included. Here, based on the most up-to-date 2026 prices, we present approximate amounts for 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months.

■ 1 week: ¥80,000–120,000

Short programs are popular with working professionals and people who want to use their vacation to immerse themselves in an English environment. Most of the cost goes to classes and accommodation; airfare is paid separately. On short stays, many people combine study with sightseeing, so daily living expenses tend to be a little higher.

• Classes (mainly one-on-one): ¥50,000–70,000
• Accommodation (student dorm): ¥20,000–30,000
• Meals (provided by the school): ¥0–10,000 (sometimes included in the dorm)
• Other (teaching materials, enrollment fee, etc.): ¥10,000–20,000

■ 1 month: ¥200,000–280,000

The 1-month course offers a good balance between improving your English and experiencing life abroad, and it is the most popular length. There are often package plans that include accommodation and meals, so daily living expenses at your destination are mostly limited to transportation and leisure.

• Classes: ¥120,000–160,000
• Accommodation (room for 2 to 4 people in a dorm): ¥50,000–70,000
• Meals: in many cases included in the dorm
• Other (teaching materials, no visa extension): ¥30,000–50,000

■ 3 months: ¥550,000–750,000

From 3 months onward, visa extension costs appear. The effect on improving your English is very large over this period, so it is often chosen by university students on long vacations or by professionals taking a career break. Because it is a longer period, it is easier to save money by choosing the room type well.

• Classes: ¥360,000–450,000
• Accommodation: ¥150,000–200,000
• Meals: included in the dorm, or approx. ¥30,000–50,000 if you eat out or cook for yourself
• Visa extension cost: approx. ¥10,000–20,000
• Other (teaching materials, etc.): ¥30,000–50,000

■ 6 months: ¥1,050,000–1,400,000

A half-year stay is the period that lets you fully adapt to life abroad and greatly improve your English level. In this period you also need to consider daily living and leisure expenses. The cost of airfare varies depending on whether you buy a round-trip ticket or separate one-way tickets.

• Classes: ¥700,000–900,000
• Accommodation: ¥300,000–400,000
• Meals: included in the dorm, or approx. ¥60,000–100,000 if you cook for yourself or eat out
• Visa extension cost: approx. ¥20,000–30,000
• Airfare (round trip): approx. ¥70,000–120,000

• The shorter the stay, the higher the weekly cost; the longer the stay, the lower the weekly rate tends to be
• The type of accommodation (single or shared room) makes a big difference in cost
• Taking advantage of promotions and early booking can save you up to 20–30%

When studying in Cebu, it is important to understand not only the total amount but also how much goes to each item. Here we explain the usual breakdown based on 2026 prices, along with tips for saving money.

① Cost of classes (tuition)

• Reference: approximately ¥50,000–70,000 per week, ¥120,000–160,000 per month
• The core is one-on-one classes; the amount varies depending on the number of sessions and the content of the course.
• Business English or exam preparation courses tend to be a little more expensive.

• Choosing a general English course lowers the cost
• Slightly reducing the number of classes and making use of self-study time is also an option

② Accommodation (student dorm, hotel, external housing)

• Reference: approximately ¥50,000–120,000 per month
• In the student dorm, shared rooms (2 to 4 people) are cheaper; a single room is more expensive.
• Living in an external apartment or hotel gives you more freedom, but you have to pay for meals separately.

• Choosing a shared room can reduce the cost by more than 40%
• The school's own dorms usually include utilities (electricity, water, etc.), which makes them more cost-effective

③ Meals

• Reference: if meals are included in the dorm, the additional cost is zero or a few thousand yen; eating out costs between 100 and 300 pesos per meal (approx. ¥250–750)
• Local canteens and food stalls are cheaper; cafés and Western food are more expensive.

• Make use of the dorm meals so you eat out less often
• Buy ingredients at local markets or supermarkets and cook for yourself

④ Daily living expenses (transportation, communications, leisure)

• Reference: approximately ¥5,000–15,000 per month
• Jeepneys and buses are cheap; taxis and Grab are a little more expensive.
• A SIM card or a portable Wi-Fi device costs around 500–1,500 pesos per month.

• Use the ride-sharing feature on Grab
• On long stays, a postpaid plan is sometimes cheaper than a prepaid SIM

Visa-related costs (studying in Cebu)

If you study in Cebu, for example to prepare for the TOEIC, and your stay exceeds 30 days, you will need to extend your tourist visa. In addition, to attend school you must have the SSP (Special Study Permit).

SSP (Special Study Permit)

ACR I-Card (alien certificate of registration)

Approximate cost of the visa extension

• The extension cost is added depending on the length and the number of times
• The “Long Stay Visa” is also available, which lets you extend for several months at once

• The SSP is mandatory for all students and is always paid the first time.
• The ACR I-Card is not needed if your stay is shorter than 60 days.
• If you use the school's management service, you will hardly have to do any paperwork at your destination.

⑥ Airfare

• Reference: approximately ¥70,000–120,000 round trip
• Low-cost carriers (LCCs) are cheaper; direct flights tend to be more expensive.
• If you catch a good promotion, you can find one-way tickets for less than ¥10,000.

“Classes + accommodation + meals” account for 70% to 80% of the total cost. The rest (visa, daily living expenses and airfare) is more variable, so it is important to plan your budget with some margin from the planning stage.

The cost of studying in Cebu can vary depending on the time of your trip. Many schools tend to raise their rates in high season (June–August, December–February), when demand increases, although this does not apply to every school.

High season (summer and year-end/new year)

• It coincides with the long vacations in Japan and Korea, so many students and professionals taking short stays gather at this time.
• At some schools the dorms fill up quickly, so accommodation and classes can become 5% to 15% more expensive.
• Airfares also tend to rise at this time, especially for direct flights, so booking in advance is essential.

Low season (rainy season, quiet period)

Example: March–May, September–November

• The temperature and weather are often stable, and tourist sites are less crowded.
• Many schools offer promotional discounts, which makes it easier to reduce the cost of long stays in this period.

Features of 3D ACADEMY

• 3D ACADEMY applies a single rate, with no distinction between high and low season.
• Because classes and accommodation do not go up in price even in high season, your budget varies little depending on the travel date, which makes planning easier.
• Even so, in popular periods places may run out, so we recommend enrolling in advance.

• What mainly varies with the time of your trip is the school's rate and the airfare
• Choosing a school with a single rate (like 3D ACADEMY) makes it easier to manage your budget
• Booking your airfare 3 to 4 months before high season allows considerable savings

With a bit of strategy, the total cost of studying in Cebu can be reduced significantly. Here are the most effective ways to save.

① Enroll taking advantage of promotions

The cost of studying abroad changes a lot depending on when you enroll and on the school's promotions. For stays starting from September 2025, 3D ACADEMY applies the following promotions for long stays of 12 weeks or more:

• 12 to 23 weeks: 5% discount
• 24 weeks or more: 10% discount

If you are considering a long stay, taking advantage of this discount can save you tens of thousands of yen.

② Choose the right room type

• A single room is comfortable, but it is usually more expensive.
• Choosing a shared room, for example for 6 people, can save you tens of thousands of yen per month.
• Sharing a room also gives you the experience of living together.

③ Reduce the number of classes

A full-time course (8 hours of classes a day) has a high learning intensity, but it is also more expensive. Reducing the number of classes and increasing self-study time lets you keep the effectiveness of your learning while lowering the cost.

④ Choose a course without accommodation

• 3D ACADEMY offers courses in which you can attend without staying in the dorm, coming from external housing.
• Because you do not have to pay for accommodation, the savings are considerable on long stays.
• It is ideal for people who already live in the area or for those who study while staying with their family.

• Take advantage of promotions to get long-stay discounts
• Adjust the room type and the course content
• Also consider other accommodation options outside the dorm to reduce the total amount

Studying in Cebu is known for its very high value for money among English-speaking destinations. Here we compare costs with other major destinations using 2026 data to show its appeal in concrete terms.

① Cebu (the Philippines)

• Approximate amount for 1 month: ¥200,000–280,000 (includes accommodation and meals)
• The core is one-on-one classes, which allow intensive English learning in a short time.
• Daily living and staff costs are low, which makes it easier to reduce the total cost.

② United States

• Approximate amount for 1 month: ¥400,000–600,000 (includes accommodation and meals)
• The core is group classes; daily living and accommodation expenses are high.
• It varies a lot depending on the cost of living and the location; urban areas are especially expensive.

③ United Kingdom

• Approximate amount for 1 month: ¥450,000–650,000
• Language schools have high tuition, and the cost of accommodation is also affected by the high cost of living.
• The usual accommodation is with a host family or in shared housing.

④ Australia

• Approximate amount for 1 month: ¥350,000–550,000
• It is possible to study while working thanks to the Working Holiday program, but the initial costs are high.
• The core is group classes, which creates an English immersion environment.

⑤ Malta

• Approximate amount for 1 month: ¥250,000–350,000
• It is relatively inexpensive within Europe, although classes are mainly in groups.
• It has great appeal as a Mediterranean tourist destination, with a strong sightseeing component.

• Compared with other countries, studying in Cebu is the only option that combines a low cost per class with one-on-one teaching
• It often includes packages with accommodation and meals, which reduces cost variability
• Airfares are affordable and the cost of the trip is also low

Studying in Cebu lets you organize flexible plans, from short stays to medium-length ones, and stands out for a value for money far superior to that of other countries. However, even within the Cebu option itself, the total amount varies a lot depending on the length of your stay, the room type, the course content and the time of your trip.

• Choosing a school with a single rate (like 3D ACADEMY) gives you peace of mind, since the cost does not change even in high season.
• Check airfare prices 3 to 4 months before your trip and book them at the best price.
• The longer the stay, the lower the weekly rate, so considering a medium or long period improves the value for money.

Studying in Cebu is an experience in which, depending on how well you gather information and plan ahead, the cost difference for the same period can be tens or even hundreds of thousands of yen.

Use this guide as a reference to choose the length, school and program that best suit you, and enjoy a full and satisfying study abroad experience.