😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $957 in Brasilia versus $753 in Dagupan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,566 in Brasilia versus $1,106 in Dagupan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,176 in Brasilia versus $1,458 in Dagupan.
🌍Living in Brasilia is roughly 27% more expensive than in Dagupan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia30% lower, Dagupan45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasilia
Dagupan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.61R$44.14
$2.82₱176
205.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.06R$200
$11.88₱744
228.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.00R$40.98
$4.51₱282
77.38%
Cappuccino
$2.55R$13.04
$2.49₱156
2.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45R$7.44
$0.47₱29.40
208.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96R$4.94
$0.25₱15.68
284.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26R$11.57
$1.22₱76.5
85.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89R$19.94
$2.69₱168
44.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Dagupan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07R$5.47
$1.82₱114
-41.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04R$10.45
$1.24₱77.8
64.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26R$6.45
$0.91₱56.7
38.46%
Eggs
$2.44R$12.51
$1.94₱121
25.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.06R$61.8
$5.65₱354
113.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.06R$20.81
$4.93₱309
-17.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.24R$42.24
$7.20₱451
14.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34R$12.01
$4.19₱262
-44.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42R$7.28
$2.01₱126
-29.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27R$6.52
$2.79₱175
-54.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65R$8.48
$1.19₱74.3
38.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16R$5.93
$2.86₱179
-59.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01R$5.18
$3.60₱226
-71.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83R$4.25
$1.10₱68.9
-24.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98R$5.00
$0.58₱36.44
68.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.39R$12.22
$2.34₱146
2.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.99R$40.95
$5.46₱342
46.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30R$6.67
$0.90₱56.2
44.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40R$12.28
$1.90₱119
26.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasilia
Dagupan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.92R$4.69
$0.22₱13.77
318.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.15R$180
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05R$5.39
$0.61₱38.12
72.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85R$4.37
$0.21₱13.12
304.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.97R$30.57
$1.93₱121
209.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28R$6.56
$1.07₱66.8
19.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6KR$115.9K
$21.7K₱1.4M
4.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KR$164.4K
$19.8K₱1.2M
62.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
Dagupan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.1R$467
$102₱6,395
-10.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.43R$63.7
$16.41₱1,027
-24.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.55R$116
$26.48₱1,657
-14.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Dagupan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.51R$161
$33.14₱2,074
-4.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.35R$135
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.86R$40.25
$4.99₱313
57.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Dagupan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813R$4,167
$789₱49.4K
3.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3KR$83.6K
$7,552₱472.7K
116.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Dagupan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.2R$268
$61.1₱3,822
-14.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.67R$224
$7.89₱494
453.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.7R$424
$82.7₱5,176
0.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5R$443
$104₱6,509
-16.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Dagupan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500R$2,563
$195₱12.2K
156.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$266R$1,364
$158₱9,863
68.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,133R$5,805
$357₱22.3K
217.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$562R$2,878
$263₱16.5K
113.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,411R$12.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,705R$8,736
$488₱30.5K
249.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Dagupan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$876R$4,488
$242₱15.2K
261.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.8
7.5
57.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brasilia: September 1, 2026
Last update for Dagupan: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Brasilia and $195 in Dagupan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brasilia pays 261% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Brasilia vs $12.00 in Dagupan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $202 per month, with Dagupan cheaper across the board.
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
Brasilia vs Dagupan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Brasilia and in Dagupan?
Brasilia and Dagupan differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($957 vs $753 including rent). Dagupan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Brasilia or Dagupan?
Average pay runs 261% higher in Brasilia, 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 Brasilia and in Dagupan?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Brasilia versus $195 in Dagupan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Brasilia and Dagupan?
Childcare runs $813 in Brasilia versus $789 in Dagupan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Dagupan – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $39.00 in Brasilia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $753 in Dagupan versus $957 in Brasilia, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dagupan but tight or insufficient in Brasilia. The gap between the two cities makes Dagupan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Brasilia and Dagupan?
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 Brasilia or Dagupan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Brasilia and Dagupan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Brasilia or Dagupan?
Expats usually find Dagupan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.