🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $502 in Dasmarinas versus $1,067 in Celaya.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $750 in Dasmarinas versus $1,696 in Celaya.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $998 in Dasmarinas versus $2,325 in Celaya.
🌍Living in Dasmarinas costs roughly 53% less than in Celaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Dasmarinas63% lower, Celaya22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.10₱257
$11.71MX$198
-64.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.57₱1,037
$53.6MX$905
-69.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.76₱173
$9.03MX$153
-69.44%
Cappuccino
$1.78₱111
$3.56MX$60.1
-50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59₱37.08
$1.26MX$21.32
-53.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31₱19.38
$1.17MX$19.74
-73.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.01₱63.4
$3.47MX$58.6
-70.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57₱98.2
$5.91MX$99.8
-73.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40₱87.4
$1.73MX$29.28
-19.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11₱69.6
$3.25MX$54.9
-65.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.70₱43.81
$1.68MX$28.29
-58.33%
Eggs
$1.82₱114
$2.34MX$39.43
-22.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.01₱313
$9.35MX$158
-46.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.46₱216
$10.41MX$176
-66.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.68₱293
$15.19MX$256
-69.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23₱140
$2.97MX$50.1
-24.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60₱100
$1.21MX$20.42
32.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.44₱153
$1.72MX$28.98
41.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.05₱65.7
$1.21MX$20.37
-13.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70₱106
$2.19MX$37.00
-22.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.75₱110
$1.75MX$29.49
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62₱38.65
$1.20MX$20.34
-48.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50₱31.20
$0.90MX$15.13
-44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₱183
$5.75MX$97.1
-49.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.07₱568
$14.84MX$251
-38.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90₱56.4
$2.07MX$34.93
-56.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01₱126
$4.59MX$77.5
-56.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.68MX$11.50
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.16MX$492
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79₱49.39
$2.08MX$35.08
-62.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₱15.69
$0.61MX$10.38
-59.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.89₱118
$5.91MX$99.8
-68.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98₱61.2
$1.49MX$25.12
-34.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K₱1.4M
$22.3KMX$377.2K
-2.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K₱1.2M
$27.0KMX$455.5K
-27.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.99₱3,067
$40.11MX$677
22.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.37₱1,087
$20.57MX$347
-15.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85₱1,493
$20.39MX$344
16.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.47₱2,095
$34.91MX$590
-4.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.79MX$503
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.10₱320
$5.43MX$91.7
-6.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$136₱8,490
$469MX$7,927
-71.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K₱677.1K
$13.7KMX$231.0K
-20.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.71₱1,797
$73.9MX$1,247
-61.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.82₱1,241
$54.8MX$925
-63.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.5₱4,478
$115MX$1,941
-37.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.4₱3,470
$124MX$2,097
-55.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$266MX$4,491
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$48.46₱3,034
$236MX$3,984
-79.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$406MX$6,850
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$308MX$5,205
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dasmarinas
Celaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$357₱22.4K
$887MX$15.0K
-59.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.4
11.3
-43.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dasmarinas: September 1, 2026
Last update for Celaya: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Celaya pays 148% 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: $17.00 in Dasmarinas vs $54.0 in Celaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $161 vs $301 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 113% in total monthly costs ($502 vs $1,067 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 148% 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 87% higher in Celaya. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Dasmarinas or Celaya?
All in, you'll spend $502 per month in Dasmarinas versus $1,067 in Celaya – a 113% 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 $502 in Dasmarinas versus $1,067 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 113% 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