Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Dumaguete Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Dumaguete

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $873 in Cebu versus $861 in Dumaguete.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,326 in Cebu versus $1,330 in Dumaguete.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,778 in Cebu versus $1,800 in Dumaguete.

Living in Cebu is roughly 1% more expensive than Dumaguete, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 35% lower, Dumaguete 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.33 ₱267

$3.21 ₱198

34.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.14 ₱1,489

$14.15 ₱873

70.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.36 ₱269

$4.39 ₱270

-0.68%

Cappuccino

$2.57 ₱159

$2.32 ₱143

10.78%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₱52.1

$0.77 ₱47.19

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱26.36

$0.36 ₱22.29

19.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱94.5

$1.07 ₱66.1

42.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.14 ₱132

-1.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 ₱137

$1.74 ₱107

27.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ₱92.6

$1.44 ₱88.6

4.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.7

$1.03 ₱63.6

7.77%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.00 ₱124

16.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 ₱803

$9.46 ₱583

37.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ₱330

$5.11 ₱315

4.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₱462

$7.99 ₱493

-6.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 ₱220

$1.76 ₱108

102.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱89.4

$1.38 ₱85.4

5.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 ₱209

$4.05 ₱250

-16.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 ₱134

$1.38 ₱85.4

57.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.59 ₱160

$2.40 ₱148

7.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.48 ₱153

$2.62 ₱162

-5.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ₱56.6

$0.86 ₱52.8

6.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.95

$0.61 ₱37.54

29.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.11 ₱192

$2.59 ₱159

20.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.52 ₱402

$7.99 ₱493

-18.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.4

$1.22 ₱75.4

-0.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$1.96 ₱121

18.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.41

$0.50 ₱30.84

-44.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.00 ₱925

$8.90 ₱549

68.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱51.6

$0.78 ₱47.88

7.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.45

$0.27 ₱16.83

-7.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 ₱166

$0.91 ₱56.1

195.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.1

$1.15 ₱70.6

-5.22%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.1K ₱1.9M

$22.7K ₱1.4M

32.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K ₱1.7M

$38.5K ₱2.4M

-29.92%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$95.4 ₱5,880

$74.3 ₱4,580

28.38%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$33.83 ₱2,086

$44.54 ₱2,747

-24.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.78 ₱1,836

$29.05 ₱1,791

2.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.91 ₱2,029

$23.73 ₱1,463

38.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.43 ₱520

$3.50 ₱216

140.86%

Cinema Ticket

$5.84 ₱360

$6.15 ₱379

-5.04%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$233 ₱14.3K

$70.7 ₱4,361

228.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,894 ₱240.1K

$1,887 ₱116.4K

106.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ₱3,297

$108 ₱6,646

-50.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.75 ₱1,403

$35.97 ₱2,218

-36.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 ₱4,729

$110 ₱6,799

-30.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 ₱3,359

$84.5 ₱5,209

-35.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₱31.8K

$242 ₱14.9K

112.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 ₱12.9K

$213 ₱13.1K

-1.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 ₱49.6K

$439 ₱27.1K

83.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱24.5K

$417 ₱25.7K

-4.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,955 ₱182.2K

$3,117 ₱192.2K

-5.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,923 ₱118.6K

$689 ₱42.5K

178.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$364 ₱22.5K

$283 ₱17.5K

28.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

23.08%

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

Last update for Cebu: June 2, 2026

Last update for Dumaguete: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Cebu and $242 in Dumaguete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 29% 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: $24.00 in Cebu vs $14.00 in Dumaguete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $211 per month, with Dumaguete 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

Cebu vs Dumaguete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dumaguete is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Cebu pays 29% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $515 in Cebu versus $242 in Dumaguete. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $873 per month in Cebu versus $861 in Dumaguete – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dumaguete runs roughly 69% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $861 in Dumaguete versus $873 in Cebu, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dumaguete but tight or insufficient in Cebu. The gap between the two cities makes Dumaguete the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Dumaguete is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cebu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Cebu and Dumaguete are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Dumaguete gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.