Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dumaguete and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Dumaguete: $790 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

38

Cost of Living Index in Dumaguete
Learn more

Dumaguete Living Index
58

Cost of Living Index in Playa del Carmen
Learn more

Playa del Carmen Living Index

Jump to prices

Dumaguete

🇵🇭 Philippines

$790

/mo nomad

Playa del Carmen

🇲🇽 Mexico

$1,204

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dumaguete and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Dumaguete and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $790 in Dumaguete versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen.

Dumaguete $790
Playa del Carmen $1,204

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,195 in Dumaguete versus $2,082 in Playa del Carmen.

Dumaguete $1,195
Playa del Carmen $2,082

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Dumaguete versus $2,959 in Playa del Carmen.

Dumaguete $1,600
Playa del Carmen $2,959

Living in Dumaguete costs roughly 34% less than in Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dumaguete 42% lower, Playa del Carmen 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.82 ₱243

$10.92 MX$205

-65.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.47 ₱986

$43.37 MX$814

-64.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.23 ₱269

$11.78 MX$221

-64.09%

Cappuccino

$2.22 ₱141

$3.81 MX$71.5

-41.73%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱45.57

$1.28 MX$24.07

-43.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱27.09

$0.78 MX$14.70

-44.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 ₱87.2

$3.17 MX$59.5

-56.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ₱116

$4.93 MX$92.7

-62.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ₱106

$1.41 MX$26.40

17.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 ₱83.6

$2.22 MX$41.62

-40.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 ₱58.8

$1.42 MX$26.61

-35.21%

Eggs

$1.79 ₱114

$2.52 MX$47.36

-28.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.57 ₱546

$7.26 MX$136

18.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.40 ₱280

$7.70 MX$144

-42.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.86 ₱437

$12.69 MX$238

-45.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 ₱97.9

$2.78 MX$52.3

-44.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 ₱81.1

$1.37 MX$25.68

-7.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.44 ₱219

$2.55 MX$47.89

34.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.28 ₱81.3

$2.12 MX$39.86

-39.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱160

$1.94 MX$36.39

29.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 ₱100

$1.89 MX$35.41

-16.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 ₱51.9

$1.15 MX$21.53

-29.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₱36.26

$1.18 MX$22.13

-51.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 ₱148

$4.30 MX$80.6

-46.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.45 ₱538

$9.95 MX$187

-15.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱72.5

$1.58 MX$29.73

-27.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 ₱81.0

$2.67 MX$50.1

-52.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₱19.06

$0.55 MX$10.39

-45.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.33 ₱722

$26.62 MX$500

-57.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 ₱43.87

$4.97 MX$93.3

-86.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.15 ₱9.41

$3.33 MX$62.5

-95.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.13 ₱135

$5.36 MX$101

-60.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱69.6

$1.44 MX$27.11

-24.31%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.2K ₱1.3M

$20.7K MX$388.0K

-2.11%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.0K ₱1.2M

$23.5K MX$440.5K

-18.89%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$66.5 ₱4,234

$84.8 MX$1,592

-21.63%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.65 ₱615

$23.41 MX$439

-58.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.12 ₱1,664

$28.66 MX$538

-8.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.13 ₱1,984

$57.1 MX$1,071

-45.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.83 ₱244

$28.91 MX$543

-86.75%

Cinema Ticket

$7.19 ₱458

$5.14 MX$96.5

39.88%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$56.4 ₱3,597

$207 MX$3,878

-72.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,650 ₱105.1K

$3,927 MX$73.7K

-57.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$93.0 ₱5,928

$43.35 MX$814

114.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.24 ₱1,990

$41.44 MX$778

-24.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 ₱6,393

$74.2 MX$1,393

35.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₱7,043

$89.3 MX$1,676

23.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$233 ₱14.9K

$980 MX$18.4K

-76.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 ₱12.9K

$381 MX$7,150

-46.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$416 ₱26.5K

$1,708 MX$32.1K

-75.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 ₱21.9K

$1,075 MX$20.2K

-67.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,045 ₱194.0K

$3,943 MX$74.0K

-22.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$674 ₱43.0K

$6,158 MX$115.6K

-89.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 ₱17.7K

$735 MX$13.8K

-62.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

-38.86%

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

Last update for Dumaguete: October 24, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Dumaguete

$202 25.6%

Playa del Carmen

$381 31.6% 88.2% $178

Groceries & Markets

Dumaguete

$190 24.1%

Playa del Carmen

$255 21.2% 33.9% $65

Clothing & Footwear

Dumaguete

$151 19.1%

Playa del Carmen

$112 9.3% 25.9% $39

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Dumaguete

$102 12.9%

Playa del Carmen

$137 11.4% 33.9% $35

Eating Out

Dumaguete

$85 10.8%

Playa del Carmen

$202 16.8% 138% $117

Sport & Entertainment

Dumaguete

$46 5.8%

Playa del Carmen

$67 5.6% 47.9% $22

Getting Around

Dumaguete

$14 1.8%

Playa del Carmen

$50 4.2% 261% $36

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $233 in Dumaguete and $980 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays about 2.6 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $15 in Dumaguete vs $43 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $255 per month, with Dumaguete cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Dumaguete

🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen

🕒 Local time

02:55 2:55 AM

13:55 1:55 PM

13 h behind Dumaguete

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

134,103

149,923

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

Mexican Peso MXN $

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.57 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

100 MXN = 5.33 USD

100 MXN = 4.77 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇭 Philippine Peso (₱)

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 63.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.15 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 18.77 MXN (100 MXN = 5.33 USD). 1 EUR = 20.96 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

USD to PHP in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Dumaguete Playa del Carmen 15,310 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight

From you

Dumaguete
Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Total monthly costs including rent come to $790 in Dumaguete and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, so Dumaguete is about 34% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 62% lower in Dumaguete. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $233 in Dumaguete versus $980 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you’ll spend $790 per month in Dumaguete versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen – Dumaguete is about 34% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

A monthly transit pass in Dumaguete runs roughly 57% less than in Playa del Carmen. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.

At $790 in Dumaguete versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Dumaguete but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Dumaguete the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Dumaguete gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.