Cost of Living Comparison Between Dumaguete and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Dumaguete and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Dumaguete versus $2,320 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,330 in Dumaguete versus $3,426 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,807 in Dumaguete versus $4,532 in Barcelona.

Living in Dumaguete costs roughly 63% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Dumaguete is 36% below, Barcelona is 74% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dumaguete
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.25 ₱200
$17.66 €15.43
-81.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.16 ₱872
$69.7 €60.9
-79.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.47 ₱275
$14.16 €12.37
-68.43%
Cappuccino
$2.33 ₱143
$2.80 €2.45
-16.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₱44.34
$2.81 €2.46
-74.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₱22.41
$2.06 €1.80
-82.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.08 ₱66.4
$4.60 €4.02
-76.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 ₱128
$4.69 €4.10
-55.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dumaguete
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ₱107
$1.23 €1.07
40.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ₱90.3
$2.03 €1.78
-27.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 ₱63.0
$1.98 €1.73
-48.48%
Eggs
$2.00 ₱123
$3.49 €3.05
-42.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.83 ₱605
$18.33 €16.01
-46.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.11 ₱314
$9.83 €8.59
-48.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.69 ₱474
$19.13 €16.71
-59.80%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 ₱112
$2.73 €2.38
-33.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 ₱84.8
$2.38 €2.08
-42.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.97 ₱244
$2.08 €1.82
90.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.39 ₱85.4
$2.75 €2.41
-49.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.38 ₱146
$1.96 €1.71
21.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.52 ₱155
$1.79 €1.57
40.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 ₱56.8
$1.48 €1.29
-37.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₱39.51
$0.91 €0.80
-29.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72 ₱167
$7.13 €6.23
-61.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.00 ₱493
$7.88 €6.88
1.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 ₱74.6
$1.38 €1.20
-12.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₱120
$2.39 €2.09
-17.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Dumaguete
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 ₱28.78
$3.01 €2.63
-84.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.96 ₱552
$29.35 €25.65
-69.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.83 ₱50.9
$4.36 €3.81
-80.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ₱16.79
$2.13 €1.86
-87.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 ₱56.3
$29.60 €25.86
-96.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₱70.6
$1.82 €1.59
-36.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K ₱1.4M
$37.9K €33.1K
-39.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K ₱2.4M
$32.4K €28.3K
21.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dumaguete
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$72.3 ₱4,451
$189 €165
-61.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.08 ₱2,775
$22.29 €19.48
102.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.31 ₱1,804
$37.16 €32.47
-21.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dumaguete
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.57 ₱1,451
$58.0 €50.7
-59.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.50 ₱215
$20.66 €18.05
-83.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.21 ₱383
$10.87 €9.50
-42.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dumaguete
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$71.3 ₱4,391
$706 €617
-89.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,875 ₱115.4K
$14.9K €13.0K
-87.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dumaguete
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107 ₱6,588
$89.4 €78.2
19.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.68 ₱2,197
$36.60 €31.98
-2.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 ₱6,908
$104 €90.9
7.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.7 ₱5,214
$119 €104
-29.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dumaguete
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$239 ₱14.7K
$1,579 €1,379
-84.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$209 ₱12.9K
$1,238 €1,082
-83.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 ₱26.5K
$2,712 €2,370
-84.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$421 ₱25.9K
$2,039 €1,782
-79.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,056 ₱188.1K
$7,527 €6,576
-59.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$702 ₱43.2K
$5,239 €4,577
-86.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dumaguete
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$292 ₱18.0K
$2,364 €2,065
-87.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
3.39
91.74%

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

Last update for Dumaguete: July 13, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Dumaguete and $1,579 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 710% 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: $14.00 in Dumaguete vs $70.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $320 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
Dumaguete vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Dumaguete and in Barcelona?
Dumaguete and Barcelona differ by about 172% in total monthly costs ($852 vs $2,320 including rent). Dumaguete 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 710% lower in Barcelona. 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 Dumaguete and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $239 in Dumaguete versus $1,579 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Dumaguete and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $71.3 in Dumaguete versus $706 in Barcelona. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $852 in Dumaguete versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dumaguete but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Dumaguete the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Dumaguete and Barcelona?
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 Dumaguete or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Dumaguete and Barcelona 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: Dumaguete or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Dumaguete gentler on the wallet – expenses run 172% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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