🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $849 in Dumaguete versus $963 in Manila.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,324 in Dumaguete versus $1,522 in Manila.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,799 in Dumaguete versus $2,081 in Manila.
🙂Living in Dumaguete costs roughly 12% less than in Manila, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Dumaguete37% lower, Manila28% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Dumaguete
Manila
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.14₱193
$5.39₱333
-41.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.99₱863
$26.79₱1,652
-47.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.35₱269
$4.54₱280
-4.19%
Cappuccino
$2.22₱137
$2.62₱162
-15.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₱47.78
$0.98₱60.7
-21.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40₱24.47
$0.54₱33.20
-25.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08₱66.6
$1.48₱91.5
-27.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12₱131
$2.73₱168
-22.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dumaguete
Manila
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69₱104
$1.96₱121
-13.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46₱90.3
$1.40₱86.1
4.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.00₱61.7
$1.03₱63.7
-2.91%
Eggs
$1.92₱118
$2.07₱128
-7.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.50₱586
$9.11₱562
4.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.12₱316
$5.20₱321
-1.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.68₱474
$8.70₱537
-11.72%
Apples(1kg)
$1.79₱111
$3.40₱210
-47.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45₱89.5
$1.81₱112
-19.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.95₱244
$3.66₱226
7.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.39₱85.6
$2.52₱155
-44.84%
Potato(1kg)
$2.47₱152
$2.81₱173
-12.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.64₱163
$3.09₱191
-14.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85₱52.7
$1.99₱123
-57.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60₱37.07
$0.69₱42.31
-13.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.61₱161
$3.44₱212
-24.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.08₱498
$9.98₱616
-19.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22₱75.5
$1.49₱92.2
-18.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07₱127
$2.19₱135
-5.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Dumaguete
Manila
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.50₱31.13
$0.48₱29.78
4.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.75₱539
$11.83₱730
-26.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.82₱50.5
$0.93₱57.2
-11.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27₱16.74
$0.27₱16.72
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.85₱52.5
$2.16₱133
-60.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₱70.9
$1.12₱68.8
2.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K₱1.4M
$26.6K₱1.6M
-13.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K₱2.4M
$23.0K₱1.4M
70.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dumaguete
Manila
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.6₱4,476
$135₱8,306
-46.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.66₱2,755
$22.00₱1,357
103.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.78₱1,775
$27.98₱1,726
2.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dumaguete
Manila
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.73₱1,464
$42.05₱2,594
-43.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.63₱224
$7.00₱431
-48.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.17₱380
$6.73₱415
-8.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dumaguete
Manila
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$72.3₱4,458
$365₱22.5K
-80.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,875₱115.6K
$11.6K₱713.2K
-83.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dumaguete
Manila
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108₱6,651
$46.97₱2,897
129.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.67₱2,200
$35.01₱2,159
1.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110₱6,793
$81.7₱5,041
34.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8₱5,289
$45.98₱2,836
86.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dumaguete
Manila
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$246₱15.1K
$489₱30.1K
-49.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$212₱13.1K
$270₱16.6K
-21.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$434₱26.8K
$1,687₱104.1K
-74.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$424₱26.1K
$630₱38.8K
-32.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,145₱194.0K
$4,325₱266.8K
-27.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$702₱43.3K
$2,640₱162.8K
-73.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dumaguete
Manila
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$294₱18.1K
$452₱27.9K
-35.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
7.52
-13.56%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Dumaguete: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Manila: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $246 in Dumaguete and $489 in Manila. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Manila pays 54% 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 $27.00 in Manila for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $243 per month, with Dumaguete cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Dumaguete vs Manila: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Dumaguete and Manila?
Dumaguete and Manila differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($849 vs $963 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, Manila earns 54% less. 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 Manila?
Rent for a central apartment: $246 in Dumaguete versus $489 in Manila. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Dumaguete or Manila?
All in, you'll spend $849 per month in Dumaguete versus $963 in Manila – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Dumaguete and Manila?
A monthly transit pass in Dumaguete runs roughly 35% less than in Manila. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $849 in Dumaguete versus $963 in Manila, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dumaguete but tight or insufficient in Manila. 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 Manila?
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 Manila safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Dumaguete and Manila 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 Manila?
Expats usually find Dumaguete gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Dumaguete vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado