Cost of Living Comparison Between Davao and Bansko Cost of Living Comparison Between Davao and Bansko

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $821 per month in Davao vs $1,025 in Bansko, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,263 per month in Davao vs $1,522 in Bansko, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,705 per month in Davao vs $2,019 in Bansko, rent included.

Davao is about 20% cheaper than Bansko, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Davao and Bansko are more affordable than the global median – Davao 39% lower, Bansko 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Davao
Bansko
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ₱272
$9.00 BGN 14.97
-51.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.31 ₱1,499
$35.36 BGN 58.8
-31.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.62 ₱285
$8.89 BGN 14.79
-48.03%
Cappuccino
$2.13 ₱131
$1.91 BGN 3.18
11.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₱54.2
$1.28 BGN 2.12
-31.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱32.92
$0.68 BGN 1.13
-22.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.39 ₱85.4
$1.17 BGN 1.95
18.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 ₱111
$2.12 BGN 3.52
-15.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Davao
Bansko
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 ₱108
$1.88 BGN 3.13
-6.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 ₱77.5
$0.84 BGN 1.41
50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 ₱56.3
$1.51 BGN 2.51
-39.74%
Eggs
$2.06 ₱127
$2.25 BGN 3.74
-8.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.89 ₱363
$9.10 BGN 15.14
-35.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.50 ₱278
$7.40 BGN 12.30
-39.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.12 ₱439
$8.52 BGN 14.18
-16.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.88 ₱178
$1.29 BGN 2.15
123.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.13 ₱69.8
$1.71 BGN 2.85
-33.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.40 ₱148
$1.78 BGN 2.96
34.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.34 ₱82.6
$2.20 BGN 3.66
-39.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.22 ₱137
$1.00 BGN 1.66
122.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.15 ₱194
$0.85 BGN 1.41
270.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 ₱81.6
$0.58 BGN 0.96
127.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ₱34.96
$0.75 BGN 1.25
-24.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.64 ₱163
$3.72 BGN 6.20
-29.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.01 ₱494
$5.23 BGN 8.69
53.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 ₱86.3
$1.16 BGN 1.93
20.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ₱96.2
$2.09 BGN 3.48
-25.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Davao
Bansko
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ₱14.84
$0.85 BGN 1.41
-71.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.15 ₱873
$27.41 BGN 45.61
-48.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 ₱52.3
$1.32 BGN 2.20
-35.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.08
$0.73 BGN 1.22
-68.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.16 ₱133
$10.20 BGN 16.96
-78.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₱67.0
$1.54 BGN 2.57
-29.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K ₱1.4M
$30.8K BGN 51.2K
-28.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K ₱1.3M
$17.5K BGN 29.1K
19.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Davao
Bansko
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 ₱6,405
$104 BGN 172
0.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.96 ₱2,094
$15.03 BGN 25.01
125.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.46 ₱2,187
$11.39 BGN 18.95
211.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Davao
Bansko
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.61 ₱2,504
$32.86 BGN 54.7
23.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.40 ₱272
$7.10 BGN 11.81
-38.03%
Cinema Ticket
$4.40 ₱271
$8.17 BGN 13.59
-46.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Davao
Bansko
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$119 ₱7,328
$240 BGN 399
-50.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,012 ₱494.0K
$2,392 BGN 3,979
234.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Davao
Bansko
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.6 ₱4,043
$38.59 BGN 64.2
69.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.07 ₱1,854
$19.34 BGN 32.18
55.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ₱4,792
$47.00 BGN 78.2
65.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.8 ₱4,183
$50.1 BGN 83.3
35.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Davao
Bansko
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$330 ₱20.4K
$529 BGN 881
-37.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$184 ₱11.3K
$384 BGN 639
-52.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$814 ₱50.2K
$650 BGN 1,082
25.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 ₱22.8K
$649 BGN 1,080
-42.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,654 ₱102.0K
$1,246 BGN 2,073
32.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,457 ₱89.9K
$1,013 BGN 1,685
43.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Davao
Bansko
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$216 ₱13.3K
$1,725 BGN 2,870
-87.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.56
3.4
181.18%

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

Last update for Davao: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bansko: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $330 in Davao versus $529 in Bansko. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 700% higher in Bansko, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Davao versus $35.00 in Bansko. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $203 – making Davao the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Davao vs Bansko: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Davao and Bansko compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $821 in Davao, $1,025 in Bansko – roughly 25% apart. Bansko costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Davao compared to Bansko?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,232 per month in Davao and $1,537 in Bansko. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Davao and Bansko?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Davao, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Davao and $35.00 in Bansko. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Davao or Bansko?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $821 in Davao and $1,025 in Bansko. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Davao, where all-in costs run around $821, than in Bansko at $1,025. In Davao it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bansko it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Davao and Bansko?
It depends on your priorities. Davao has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $821 in Davao to $1,025 in Bansko. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Davao or Bansko safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Davao and Bansko?
If budget matters most, go with Davao. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bansko makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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