Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dumaguete and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Dumaguete: $790 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Dumaguete, Philippines
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Dumaguete
🇵🇭 Philippines
$790
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dumaguete and in Ubud, Bali

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 Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $790 in Dumaguete versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Dumaguete $790
  • Ubud, Bali $1,349

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,195 in Dumaguete versus $2,305 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Dumaguete $1,195
  • Ubud, Bali $2,305

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Dumaguete versus $3,261 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Dumaguete $1,600
  • Ubud, Bali $3,261

Living in Dumaguete costs roughly 41% less than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dumaguete
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.82 ₱242
$3.32 Rp 60.3K
15.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.47 ₱982
$35.64 Rp 646.7K
-56.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.23 ₱268
$5.53 Rp 100.4K
-23.51%
Cappuccino
$2.22 ₱141
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
-18.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₱45.42
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
-57.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ₱27.00
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
-43.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.37 ₱86.9
$2.65 Rp 48.2K
-48.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 ₱116
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
-58.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dumaguete
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ₱105
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
11.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 ₱83.3
$2.28 Rp 41.3K
-42.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ₱58.6
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
-22.69%
Eggs
$1.79 ₱113
$2.04 Rp 36.9K
-12.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.57 ₱544
$17.70 Rp 321.2K
-51.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.40 ₱279
$3.96 Rp 71.9K
11.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.86 ₱436
$12.19 Rp 221.2K
-43.72%
Apples (1kg)
$1.54 ₱97.6
$3.66 Rp 66.3K
-57.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 ₱80.8
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
-16.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.44 ₱218
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
54.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 ₱81.0
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
-35.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.52 ₱160
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
36.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 ₱100
$2.42 Rp 44.0K
-34.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 ₱51.7
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
-18.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ₱36.14
$0.51 Rp 9,316
11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.32 ₱148
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
4.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.45 ₱537
$22.24 Rp 403.6K
-62.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 ₱72.3
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
-49.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 ₱80.7
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
-57.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Dumaguete
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 ₱18.99
$0.25 Rp 4,555
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.33 ₱720
$7.82 Rp 142.0K
44.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.69 ₱43.72
$0.44 Rp 7,975
56.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.15 ₱9.38
$0.43 Rp 7,804
-65.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.13 ₱135
$5.41 Rp 98.2K
-60.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₱69.3
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
32.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2K ₱1.3M
$23.8K Rp 432.6M
-15.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K ₱1.2M
$31.7K Rp 576.1M
-40.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dumaguete
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$66.5 ₱4,220
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
-15.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.65 ₱613
$6.45 Rp 117.0K
49.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.12 ₱1,659
$18.58 Rp 337.1K
40.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dumaguete
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.13 ₱1,977
$49.48 Rp 897.9K
-37.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.83 ₱243
$17.65 Rp 320.2K
-78.30%
Cinema Ticket
$7.19 ₱457
$4.27 Rp 77.6K
68.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dumaguete
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$56.4 ₱3,585
$491 Rp 8.9M
-88.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,650 ₱104.8K
$5,674 Rp 103.0M
-70.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dumaguete
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.0 ₱5,908
$44.64 Rp 810.0K
108.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.24 ₱1,984
$34.95 Rp 634.2K
-10.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 ₱6,372
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
25.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₱7,020
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
39.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dumaguete
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$233 ₱14.8K
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
-79.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$202 ₱12.9K
$671 Rp 12.2M
-69.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$416 ₱26.4K
$3,565 Rp 64.7M
-88.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$344 ₱21.9K
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
-80.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,045 ₱193.4K
$2,732 Rp 49.6M
11.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$674 ₱42.8K
$2,284 Rp 41.4M
-70.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dumaguete
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$278 ₱17.6K
$164 Rp 3.0M
69.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
13.78
-49.20%

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

Last update for Dumaguete: October 24, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Dumaguete
$202
Ubud, Bali
$672 232% $469
Groceries & Markets
Dumaguete
$190
Ubud, Bali
$288 51.7% $98
Clothing & Footwear
Dumaguete
$151
Ubud, Bali
$108 28.7% $43
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dumaguete
$102
Ubud, Bali
$104 1.8% $1.9
Eating Out
Dumaguete
$85
Ubud, Bali
$108 26.8% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Dumaguete
$46
Ubud, Bali
$58 27.5% $13
Getting Around
Dumaguete
$14
Ubud, Bali
$11 18.2% $2.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $233 in Dumaguete and $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dumaguete pays 70% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $15 in Dumaguete vs $36 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $288 per month, with Dumaguete cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Dumaguete
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
00:26 12:26 AM
00:26 12:26 AM
Same time as Dumaguete
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
134,103
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 63.51 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 70.87 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,145 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,249 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dumaguete Ubud, Bali 2,170 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Dumaguete
  • Ubud, Bali

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 Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Dumaguete and in Ubud, Bali?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $790 in Dumaguete and $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, so Dumaguete is about 41% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Dumaguete or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 70% higher in Dumaguete, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Dumaguete and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $233 in Dumaguete versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Dumaguete or Ubud, Bali?
All in, you’ll spend $790 per month in Dumaguete versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali – Dumaguete is about 41% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How do commuting costs compare in Dumaguete and in Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 31% less than in Dumaguete. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $790 in Dumaguete versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Dumaguete but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. 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 Ubud, Bali?
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 Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Dumaguete and Ubud, Bali are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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