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: $855 in Dumaguete versus $918 in Vratsa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,331 in Dumaguete versus $1,426 in Vratsa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,806 in Dumaguete versus $1,934 in Vratsa.

Living in Dumaguete costs roughly 7% less than in Vratsa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dumaguete 36% lower, Vratsa 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 ₱189

$9.02 BGN 15.01

-65.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.34 ₱864

$29.87 BGN 49.69

-51.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.51 ₱272

$5.92 BGN 9.85

-23.82%

Cappuccino

$2.25 ₱135

$2.41 BGN 4.01

-6.64%

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

$0.73 ₱44.13

$1.45 BGN 2.41

-49.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱23.79

$0.85 BGN 1.41

-52.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.09 ₱65.7

$1.79 BGN 2.98

-39.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱127

$2.42 BGN 4.03

-13.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ₱102

$1.35 BGN 2.25

25.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ₱88.1

$1.01 BGN 1.69

44.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱60.7

$1.33 BGN 2.21

-24.06%

Eggs

$1.91 ₱115

$3.21 BGN 5.34

-40.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 ₱584

$9.56 BGN 15.90

1.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.04 ₱303

$5.80 BGN 9.64

-13.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.98 ₱481

$11.78 BGN 19.60

-32.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 ₱108

$1.58 BGN 2.64

13.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱87.4

$1.77 BGN 2.94

-18.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.97 ₱239

$1.15 BGN 1.91

245.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 ₱84.0

$1.80 BGN 3.00

-22.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.35 ₱141

$1.03 BGN 1.71

128.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 ₱156

$0.86 BGN 1.44

201.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ₱56.0

$0.90 BGN 1.50

3.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₱38.03

$0.61 BGN 1.01

3.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.59 ₱156

$3.58 BGN 5.95

-27.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.98 ₱481

$5.47 BGN 9.11

45.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱71.1

$1.05 BGN 1.74

12.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ₱119

$1.82 BGN 3.03

8.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱30.73

$0.62 BGN 1.02

-17.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.08 ₱547

$17.61 BGN 29.29

-48.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱47.25

$0.86 BGN 1.43

-9.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.03

$0.64 BGN 1.07

-60.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₱51.4

$6.66 BGN 11.07

-87.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱65.9

$1.58 BGN 2.63

-31.01%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$32.2K BGN 53.6K

-29.16%

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

$38.7K ₱2.3M

$27.5K BGN 45.7K

40.60%

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

$73.8 ₱4,447

$97.8 BGN 163

-24.49%

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

$44.00 ₱2,650

$13.01 BGN 21.64

238.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.11 ₱1,753

$14.51 BGN 24.15

100.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.36 ₱1,407

$23.28 BGN 38.72

0.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.58 ₱215

$14.70 BGN 24.46

-75.65%

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 ₱373

$5.83 BGN 9.69

6.17%

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

$72.0 ₱4,336

$426 BGN 708

-83.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,870 ₱112.6K

$5,458 BGN 9,080

-65.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 ₱6,311

$62.0 BGN 103

68.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ₱2,122

$36.05 BGN 60.0

-2.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 ₱6,706

$99.1 BGN 165

12.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.9 ₱5,113

$107 BGN 179

-20.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 ₱14.8K

$254 BGN 423

-3.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$212 ₱12.8K

$262 BGN 436

-19.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ₱26.1K

$470 BGN 782

-7.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$418 ₱25.2K

$427 BGN 710

-2.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,190 ₱192.1K

$1,326 BGN 2,206

140.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$699 ₱42.1K

$1,109 BGN 1,845

-36.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$292 ₱17.6K

$1,142 BGN 1,899

-74.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

4.49

44.77%

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

Last update for Dumaguete: June 15, 2026

Last update for Vratsa: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $246 in Dumaguete and $254 in Vratsa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vratsa pays 291% 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 $30.00 in Vratsa. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $202, 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 ($855 vs $918 including rent). Dumaguete is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Vratsa earns 291% less. 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: $246 in Dumaguete versus $254 in Vratsa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $855 per month in Dumaguete versus $918 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 94% 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.