🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $540 in Dasmarinas versus $1,144 in Celaya.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $964 in Dasmarinas versus $1,839 in Celaya.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,388 in Dasmarinas versus $2,533 in Celaya.
🌍Living in Dasmarinas costs roughly 53% less than in Celaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Dasmarinas60% lower, Celaya14% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.61₱223
$11.49MX$201
-68.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.13₱810
$42.91MX$751
-69.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.61₱161
$8.04MX$141
-67.54%
Cappuccino
$1.64₱102
$3.00MX$52.6
-45.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59₱36.27
$1.13MX$19.86
-47.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31₱19.05
$0.92MX$16.17
-66.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.04₱64.2
$2.65MX$46.43
-60.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31₱80.6
$4.59MX$80.5
-71.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60₱98.8
$1.56MX$27.40
2.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07₱65.9
$2.27MX$39.84
-52.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.79₱49.06
$1.52MX$26.69
-48.03%
Eggs
$2.06₱127
$1.93MX$33.77
6.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.58₱344
$9.38MX$164
-40.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.84₱237
$8.57MX$150
-55.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.09₱499
$10.76MX$189
-24.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.62₱162
$2.89MX$50.6
-9.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38₱85.5
$1.60MX$28.10
-13.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74₱107
$1.82MX$31.91
-4.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.69₱42.38
$1.92MX$33.60
-64.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09₱67.1
$2.19MX$38.44
-50.23%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28₱141
$2.22MX$38.84
2.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71₱43.89
$1.28MX$22.36
-44.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45₱27.82
$0.94MX$16.45
-52.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14₱132
$3.89MX$68.1
-44.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.11₱563
$17.33MX$303
-47.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07₱66.0
$1.69MX$29.53
-36.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35₱145
$3.46MX$60.6
-32.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₱17.38
$0.57MX$9.92
-50.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.31₱266
$26.25MX$460
-83.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86₱53.0
$0.80MX$14.04
7.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.24₱14.91
$1.53MX$26.77
-84.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.43₱150
$8.81MX$154
-72.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11₱68.4
$1.32MX$23.08
-15.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K₱2.0M
$26.0KMX$454.6K
24.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K₱1.3M
$21.7KMX$380.3K
-4.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.04₱2,719
$45.79MX$802
-3.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.48₱2,128
$22.28MX$390
54.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.34₱1,626
$21.26MX$372
23.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$11.94₱737
$35.77MX$626
-66.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.49₱277
$15.70MX$275
-71.40%
Cinema Ticket
$5.79₱358
$4.81MX$84.2
20.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$154₱9,485
$218MX$3,824
-29.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,737₱292.4K
$3,407MX$59.7K
39.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.83₱2,952
$57.6MX$1,009
-16.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.93₱1,724
$42.04MX$736
-33.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.4₱4,594
$99.3MX$1,739
-25.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.92₱2,897
$74.8MX$1,311
-37.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$263₱16.3K
$502MX$8,795
-47.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$85.0₱5,249
$398MX$6,973
-78.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$582₱35.9K
$918MX$16.1K
-36.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$402₱24.8K
$774MX$13.6K
-48.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$392₱24.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$359₱22.1K
$871MX$15.3K
-58.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.4
11.5
-44.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dasmarinas: July 21, 2026
Last update for Celaya: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in Dasmarinas and $502 in Celaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Celaya pays 143% 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: $13.00 in Dasmarinas vs $43.00 in Celaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $274 per month, with Dasmarinas 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
Dasmarinas vs Celaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Dasmarinas and in Celaya?
Dasmarinas and Celaya differ by about 112% in total monthly costs ($540 vs $1,144 including rent). Dasmarinas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 143% lower in Celaya. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Dasmarinas and in Celaya?
Rent for a central apartment: $263 in Dasmarinas versus $502 in Celaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Dasmarinas – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $43.00 in Celaya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Dasmarinas or Celaya?
All in, you'll spend $540 per month in Dasmarinas versus $1,144 in Celaya – a 112% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $540 in Dasmarinas versus $1,144 in Celaya, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dasmarinas but tight or insufficient in Celaya. The gap between the two cities makes Dasmarinas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Dasmarinas and Celaya?
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 Dasmarinas or Celaya safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Dasmarinas and Celaya 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: Dasmarinas or Celaya?
Expats usually find Dasmarinas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 112% less than in Celaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Dasmarinas vs other spots: cost of living compared