Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Dumaguete

For one person, living is cheaper in Dumaguete: $790 a month against $2,453 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $20,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Barcelona, Spain
Dumaguete, Philippines
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,453
/mo nomad
Dumaguete
🇵🇭 Philippines
$790
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Barcelona 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 Barcelona and in Dumaguete actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,453 in Barcelona versus $790 in Dumaguete.

  • Barcelona $2,453
  • Dumaguete $790

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,509 in Barcelona versus $1,195 in Dumaguete.

  • Barcelona $3,509
  • Dumaguete $1,195

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,564 in Barcelona versus $1,600 in Dumaguete.

  • Barcelona $4,564
  • Dumaguete $1,600

Living in Barcelona is roughly 211% more expensive than in Dumaguete, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 80% above, Dumaguete is 42% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Dumaguete
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.69
$3.82 ₱242
360.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 €60.2
$15.47 ₱982
336.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.53 €12.07
$4.23 ₱268
219.86%
Cappuccino
$3.19 €2.85
$2.22 ₱141
43.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 €2.60
$0.72 ₱45.42
304.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 €1.69
$0.43 ₱27.00
339.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.01 €3.58
$1.37 ₱86.9
192.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €4.04
$1.83 ₱116
147.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Dumaguete
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 €1.16
$1.66 ₱105
-21.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.02 €1.80
$1.31 ₱83.3
54.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 €1.65
$0.92 ₱58.6
101.09%
Eggs
$4.83 €4.31
$1.79 ₱113
169.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.74 €14.93
$8.57 ₱544
95.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.12 €8.14
$4.40 ₱279
107.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.64 €17.52
$6.86 ₱436
186.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 €2.66
$1.54 ₱97.6
93.51%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 €1.80
$1.27 ₱80.8
59.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 €2.41
$3.44 ₱218
-21.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.80 €2.50
$1.28 ₱81.0
118.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 €1.86
$2.52 ₱160
-17.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.85
$1.58 ₱100
31.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 €1.30
$0.81 ₱51.7
80.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.84
$0.57 ₱36.14
64.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.87 €6.13
$2.32 ₱148
196.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 €7.04
$8.45 ₱537
-6.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 €1.25
$1.14 ₱72.3
23.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 €2.26
$1.27 ₱80.7
100.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Dumaguete
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.14 €2.80
$0.30 ₱18.99
946.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.45 €22.70
$11.33 ₱720
124.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 €2.67
$0.69 ₱43.72
333.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 €1.33
$0.15 ₱9.38
893.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.37 €29.78
$2.13 ₱135
1466.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 €1.60
$1.09 ₱69.3
65.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K €29.6K
$20.2K ₱1.3M
64.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K €28.3K
$19.0K ₱1.2M
66.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Dumaguete
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 €161
$66.5 ₱4,220
171.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.84 €12.35
$9.65 ₱613
43.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.70 €30.06
$26.12 ₱1,659
29.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Dumaguete
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.5 €45.96
$31.13 ₱1,977
65.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.96 €14.24
$3.83 ₱243
316.71%
Cinema Ticket
$10.99 €9.81
$7.19 ₱457
52.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Dumaguete
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$917 €818
$56.4 ₱3,585
1524.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.7K
$1,650 ₱104.8K
898.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Dumaguete
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.0 €77.7
$93.0 ₱5,908
-6.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51 €34.35
$31.24 ₱1,984
23.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 €94.4
$100 ₱6,372
5.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €107
$111 ₱7,020
8.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Dumaguete
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,699 €1,516
$233 ₱14.8K
628.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,355 €1,209
$202 ₱12.9K
569.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,603 €2,322
$416 ₱26.4K
525.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 €1,840
$344 ₱21.9K
499.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,915 €6,169
$3,045 ₱193.4K
127.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,128 €4,575
$674 ₱42.8K
660.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Dumaguete
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,211 €1,972
$278 ₱17.6K
695.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.28
7
-53.14%

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

Last update for Barcelona: October 25, 2026

Last update for Dumaguete: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
$1.4K
Dumaguete
$202 85.1% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
$322
Dumaguete
$190 40.9% $132
Eating Out
Barcelona
$268
Dumaguete
$85 68.3% $183
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
$228
Dumaguete
$102 55.2% $126
Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
$158
Dumaguete
$151 4.5% $7.2
Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
$74
Dumaguete
$46 38.1% $28
Getting Around
Barcelona
$48
Dumaguete
$14 71.2% $35

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,699 in Barcelona and $233 in Dumaguete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays about 8 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $67 in Barcelona vs $15 in Dumaguete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $322 vs $190 per month, with Dumaguete cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🇵🇭 Dumaguete
🕒 Local time
20:10 8:10 PM
03:10 3:10 AM
7 h ahead of Barcelona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,660,122
134,103
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 63.51 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 70.87 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Barcelona Dumaguete 11,790 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Barcelona
  • 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
Barcelona vs Dumaguete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Dumaguete?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,453 in Barcelona and $790 in Dumaguete, so Dumaguete is about 68% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Dumaguete?
Average pay in Barcelona is about 8 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Dumaguete?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,699 in Barcelona versus $233 in Dumaguete. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Dumaguete?
Childcare runs $917 in Barcelona versus $56 in Dumaguete. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 69% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $790 in Dumaguete versus $2,453 in Barcelona, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Dumaguete but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Dumaguete the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Dumaguete?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Dumaguete safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Dumaguete are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Dumaguete?
Expats usually find Dumaguete gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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