Cost of Living Comparison Between Dumaguete and Vratsa Cost of Living Comparison Between Dumaguete and Vratsa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $806 in Dumaguete versus $863 in Vratsa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,208 in Dumaguete versus $1,301 in Vratsa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,611 in Dumaguete versus $1,739 in Vratsa.

Living in Dumaguete costs roughly 7% less than in Vratsa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dumaguete 41% lower, Vratsa 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.73 ₱234

$8.81 BGN 14.66

-57.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.69 ₱984

$29.66 BGN 49.34

-47.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.26 ₱267

$5.97 BGN 9.93

-28.64%

Cappuccino

$2.32 ₱145

$2.31 BGN 3.85

0.43%

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

$0.76 ₱47.96

$1.56 BGN 2.60

-51.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱27.06

$0.92 BGN 1.53

-53.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 ₱86.5

$1.74 BGN 2.89

-20.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱119

$2.05 BGN 3.41

-7.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ₱105

$1.43 BGN 2.38

16.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 ₱82.9

$0.85 BGN 1.41

55.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 ₱58.5

$1.34 BGN 2.23

-30.60%

Eggs

$1.74 ₱109

$2.32 BGN 3.86

-25.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.53 ₱535

$9.64 BGN 16.04

-11.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 ₱270

$5.88 BGN 9.79

-26.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.22 ₱453

$8.92 BGN 14.85

-19.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.61 ₱101

$1.30 BGN 2.16

23.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 ₱81.0

$1.77 BGN 2.94

-27.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.55 ₱222

$1.16 BGN 1.93

206.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.30 ₱81.6

$1.79 BGN 2.99

-27.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 ₱157

$0.97 BGN 1.62

158.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 ₱145

$0.76 BGN 1.26

205.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 ₱48.10

$0.61 BGN 1.01

26.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱36.52

$0.61 BGN 1.02

-4.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.40 ₱150

$3.44 BGN 5.72

-30.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.79 ₱551

$5.48 BGN 9.11

60.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₱71.2

$1.18 BGN 1.96

-4.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 ₱81.3

$1.73 BGN 2.87

-24.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₱23.98

$0.93 BGN 1.55

-59.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.12 ₱635

$25.00 BGN 41.59

-59.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 ₱43.63

$0.85 BGN 1.41

-17.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.15 ₱9.33

$0.63 BGN 1.05

-76.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₱132

$6.58 BGN 10.95

-68.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 ₱61.7

$1.59 BGN 2.65

-38.36%

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

$20.4K ₱1.3M

$30.4K BGN 50.6K

-33.01%

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

$24.7K ₱1.5M

$21.1K BGN 35.0K

17.14%

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

$67.5 ₱4,235

$95.1 BGN 158

-28.97%

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

$9.72 ₱610

$12.86 BGN 21.39

-24.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.66 ₱1,672

$12.80 BGN 21.30

108.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.38 ₱1,529

$23.57 BGN 39.21

3.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.07 ₱255

$15.04 BGN 25.02

-72.94%

Cinema Ticket

$6.96 ₱437

$5.87 BGN 9.76

18.57%

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

$59.2 ₱3,715

$239 BGN 397

-75.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,674 ₱105.0K

$2,358 BGN 3,922

-28.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$97.1 ₱6,089

$32.07 BGN 53.4

202.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.32 ₱2,027

$19.84 BGN 33.00

62.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.4 ₱6,234

$67.2 BGN 112

47.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₱7,105

$54.0 BGN 89.8

109.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 ₱14.7K

$342 BGN 569

-31.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 ₱13.1K

$262 BGN 435

-20.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ₱27.2K

$573 BGN 954

-24.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 ₱22.4K

$410 BGN 682

-12.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,061 ₱192.0K

$1,363 BGN 2,267

124.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$668 ₱41.9K

$1,105 BGN 1,838

-39.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$279 ₱17.5K

$1,103 BGN 1,835

-74.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.99

134.11%

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

Last update for Dumaguete: September 12, 2026

Last update for Vratsa: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $234 in Dumaguete and $342 in Vratsa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vratsa pays 295% 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: $16.00 in Dumaguete vs $30.00 in Vratsa. Groceries flip the comparison at $194 vs $188, with Vratsa cheaper for home cooking.

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 Vratsa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dumaguete and Vratsa differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($806 vs $863 including rent). Dumaguete is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 295% lower in Vratsa. 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: $234 in Dumaguete versus $342 in Vratsa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $806 per month in Dumaguete versus $863 in Vratsa – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dumaguete runs roughly 147% less than in Vratsa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Dumaguete gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Dumaguete and Vratsa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Dumaguete gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Vratsa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.