I think $20 is expensive for him better for him to rent an apartment who are more bigger and the rent fee is cost $100 a month I think instead of $20 per night. A city of Cebu is of the cities in the Philippines who are really popular because they have a good place and have different culture. If they are are going to cebu how long he going to live there o he decided to take a vacation only?
Kaya nga tulad ng sinabi ko kung short term lang siya, mas mapapamahal siya pero kung long term baka may mahanap naman siya. Kailangan niya lang maging matyaga sa paghahanap. Pero kung for good naman siya o di kaya mga 6 months to 1 year makakahanap naman siya niyan panigurado. Kaya kung meron siyang kakilala doon mas mapapadali sa kanya pero kung wala at baka meron dito tayong mga kababayan na bandang Cebu nakatira o di kaya may kakilala, pwede niyong suggest sa kanya.
Kung may budget siyang $20/day - magrent na lang say ng condo for 25000PHP a month dahil mas safer. You can test your booking in
https://www.booking.com set dates at makikita nya na maraming hotel offering 30 nights for less than 25K PHP.
My suggestion is PENSIONNE LA FLORENTINA dahil nakatira ako malapit dito nong nasa Cebu pa ako.
If you wanna see what your fellow tourist do in Cebu to rent space check this place
https://www.livingincebuforums.com/forum/20-buying-or-renting-real-estate/Hwag sa $100/month baka hindi gated community yan dahil, baka maransack lang sya ng mga maldito dyan sa Cebu at pagkakwartahan ng mga lispu.
edit: Mahal nga pala ngayon angrates dahil malapit na Sinulog Festival.