Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bansko and Dumaguete

For one person, living is cheaper in Dumaguete: $791 a month against $956 in Bansko, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Bansko outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Bansko
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$956
/mo nomad
Dumaguete
🇵🇭 Philippines
$791
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bansko and in Dumaguete

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bansko and in Dumaguete actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $956 per month in Bansko vs $791 in Dumaguete, rent included.

  • Bansko $956
  • Dumaguete $791

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Bansko vs $1,202 in Dumaguete, rent included.

  • Bansko $1,467
  • Dumaguete $1,202

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Bansko vs $1,612 in Dumaguete, rent included.

  • Bansko $1,979
  • Dumaguete $1,612

Bansko costs about 21% more than Dumaguete, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Bansko and Dumaguete are more affordable than the global median – Bansko 29% lower, Dumaguete 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bansko
Dumaguete
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.66 BGN 15.06
$3.85 ₱242
124.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.94 BGN 78.2
$16.19 ₱1,020
177.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.78 BGN 15.28
$4.17 ₱262
110.55%
Cappuccino
$2.33 BGN 4.05
$2.27 ₱143
2.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 BGN 2.74
$0.72 ₱45.42
118.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 BGN 1.43
$0.44 ₱27.45
86.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 BGN 2.92
$1.34 ₱84.2
25.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 BGN 3.45
$1.85 ₱117
7.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bansko
Dumaguete
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 BGN 3.00
$1.61 ₱101
7.45%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 BGN 1.40
$1.33 ₱83.9
-39.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 BGN 2.51
$0.95 ₱59.6
51.58%
Eggs
$2.36 BGN 4.10
$1.75 ₱110
34.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.39 BGN 16.34
$8.39 ₱528
11.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.41 BGN 11.15
$4.40 ₱277
45.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.48 BGN 14.76
$7.01 ₱441
20.97%
Apples (1kg)
$1.31 BGN 2.28
$1.63 ₱103
-19.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 BGN 2.82
$1.30 ₱82.0
24.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 BGN 3.01
$3.51 ₱221
-50.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.94 BGN 3.38
$1.25 ₱78.7
55.20%
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 BGN 1.63
$2.43 ₱153
-61.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 BGN 1.32
$1.57 ₱98.8
-51.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 BGN 0.95
$0.79 ₱49.58
-30.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 BGN 1.02
$0.54 ₱34.27
9.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.25 BGN 5.66
$2.32 ₱146
40.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.20 BGN 9.05
$8.84 ₱557
-41.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 BGN 1.89
$1.20 ₱75.7
-9.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 BGN 2.92
$1.26 ₱79.1
33.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Bansko
Dumaguete
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 BGN 1.45
$0.41 ₱25.84
104.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.06 BGN 47.09
$10.09 ₱635
168.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.34 BGN 2.34
$0.69 ₱43.64
94.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 BGN 1.14
$0.17 ₱10.41
282.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.06 BGN 17.51
$2.19 ₱138
359.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 BGN 2.57
$1.06 ₱66.7
39.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K BGN 50.7K
$20.9K ₱1.3M
39.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K BGN 36.4K
$24.1K ₱1.5M
-13.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bansko
Dumaguete
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.4 BGN 161
$67.1 ₱4,227
37.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.52 BGN 25.26
$10.05 ₱632
44.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.32 BGN 21.43
$25.78 ₱1,623
-52.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bansko
Dumaguete
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.70 BGN 55.2
$23.76 ₱1,496
33.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.53 BGN 14.84
$4.06 ₱256
110.10%
Cinema Ticket
$5.62 BGN 9.78
$7.23 ₱455
-22.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bansko
Dumaguete
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$230 BGN 401
$57.8 ₱3,639
298.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,268 BGN 3,947
$1,698 ₱106.9K
33.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bansko
Dumaguete
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.10 BGN 52.4
$94.4 ₱5,945
-68.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.62 BGN 34.13
$32.11 ₱2,022
-38.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.86 BGN 79.8
$102 ₱6,429
-55.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.69 BGN 83.0
$112 ₱7,053
-57.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bansko
Dumaguete
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$518 BGN 902
$238 ₱15.0K
117.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$357 BGN 621
$207 ₱13.0K
72.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$614 BGN 1,069
$429 ₱27.0K
43.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$569 BGN 990
$359 ₱22.6K
58.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,191 BGN 2,073
$3,082 ₱194.0K
-61.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$959 BGN 1,669
$693 ₱43.7K
38.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bansko
Dumaguete
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,704 BGN 2,965
$276 ₱17.4K
517.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.99
7
-57.29%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bansko: October 11, 2026

Last update for Dumaguete: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bansko
$357
Dumaguete
$207 42% $150
Groceries & Markets
Bansko
$192
Dumaguete
$191 0.4% $0.8
Eating Out
Bansko
$145
Dumaguete
$86 41.2% $60
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bansko
$119
Dumaguete
$103 13.7% $16
Clothing & Footwear
Bansko
$64
Dumaguete
$153 138% $89
Sport & Entertainment
Bansko
$43
Dumaguete
$38 11% $4.7
Getting Around
Bansko
$35
Dumaguete
$13 62.2% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $518 in Bansko versus $238 in Dumaguete. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 517% higher in Bansko, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Bansko versus $16.00 in Dumaguete. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $191 – making Dumaguete the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇬 Bansko
🇵🇭 Dumaguete
🕒 Local time
05:29 5:29 AM
10:29 10:29 AM
5 h ahead of Bansko
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,000
134,103
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to BGN – Bulgarian Lev Converter

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BGN (1 BGN = 0.575 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.511 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bansko Dumaguete 10,120 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bansko
  • Dumaguete

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
Bansko vs Dumaguete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Bansko and in Dumaguete compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $956 in Bansko, $791 in Dumaguete – roughly 21% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.
What salary covers living expenses in Bansko compared to Dumaguete?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,434 per month in Bansko and $1,187 in Dumaguete. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Bansko and Dumaguete?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dumaguete, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Bansko and $16.00 in Dumaguete. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bansko or Dumaguete?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $956 in Bansko and $791 in Dumaguete. That's a gap of about 21%.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Dumaguete, where all-in costs run around $791, than in Bansko at $956. In Dumaguete it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bansko it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Bansko and Dumaguete?
It depends on your priorities. Dumaguete has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $791 in Dumaguete to $956 in Bansko. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Bansko or Dumaguete safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Bansko and Dumaguete?
If budget matters most, go with Dumaguete. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bansko makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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