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: $849 in Dumaguete versus $933 in Vratsa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,324 in Dumaguete versus $1,409 in Vratsa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,799 in Dumaguete versus $1,886 in Vratsa.

Living in Dumaguete costs roughly 9% less than in Vratsa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dumaguete 37% lower, Vratsa 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 ₱193

$8.70 BGN 14.54

-63.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.99 ₱863

$29.40 BGN 49.11

-52.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.35 ₱269

$5.83 BGN 9.74

-25.39%

Cappuccino

$2.22 ₱137

$2.38 BGN 3.98

-6.72%

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

$0.77 ₱47.78

$1.46 BGN 2.43

-47.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.47

$0.85 BGN 1.43

-52.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ₱66.6

$1.74 BGN 2.91

-37.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ₱131

$2.32 BGN 3.88

-8.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ₱104

$1.37 BGN 2.28

23.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ₱90.3

$1.03 BGN 1.72

41.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱61.7

$1.33 BGN 2.23

-24.81%

Eggs

$1.92 ₱118

$3.24 BGN 5.41

-40.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.50 ₱586

$9.33 BGN 15.58

1.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱316

$5.96 BGN 9.95

-14.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.68 ₱474

$11.84 BGN 19.77

-35.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 ₱111

$1.50 BGN 2.51

19.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₱89.5

$1.74 BGN 2.90

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.95 ₱244

$1.20 BGN 2.01

229.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.39 ₱85.6

$1.79 BGN 2.98

-22.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 ₱152

$0.99 BGN 1.65

149.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 ₱163

$0.90 BGN 1.50

193.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 ₱52.7

$0.85 BGN 1.43

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₱37.07

$0.58 BGN 0.96

3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.61 ₱161

$3.48 BGN 5.81

-25.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱498

$5.27 BGN 8.80

53.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₱75.5

$1.03 BGN 1.73

18.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₱127

$1.75 BGN 2.92

18.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 ₱31.13

$0.57 BGN 0.96

-12.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.75 ₱539

$17.95 BGN 29.98

-51.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱50.5

$0.89 BGN 1.49

-7.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.74

$0.60 BGN 1.01

-55.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₱52.5

$6.32 BGN 10.56

-86.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.9

$1.53 BGN 2.55

-24.84%

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

$22.9K ₱1.4M

$32.1K BGN 53.7K

-28.82%

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

$39.2K ₱2.4M

$27.7K BGN 46.2K

41.77%

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

$72.6 ₱4,476

$97.7 BGN 163

-25.75%

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

$44.66 ₱2,755

$12.78 BGN 21.34

249.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.78 ₱1,775

$14.82 BGN 24.75

94.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.73 ₱1,464

$23.78 BGN 39.71

-0.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.63 ₱224

$14.63 BGN 24.44

-75.19%

Cinema Ticket

$6.17 ₱380

$5.85 BGN 9.77

5.47%

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

$72.3 ₱4,458

$425 BGN 709

-82.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,875 ₱115.6K

$6,959 BGN 11.6K

-73.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$108 ₱6,651

$59.6 BGN 99.6

80.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.67 ₱2,200

$35.48 BGN 59.3

0.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 ₱6,793

$100 BGN 168

9.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ₱5,289

$104 BGN 173

-17.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 ₱15.1K

$258 BGN 430

-4.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$212 ₱13.1K

$270 BGN 451

-21.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ₱26.8K

$477 BGN 796

-9.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$424 ₱26.1K

$420 BGN 701

0.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,145 ₱194.0K

$1,483 BGN 2,477

112.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$702 ₱43.3K

$784 BGN 1,309

-10.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$294 ₱18.1K

$1,149 BGN 1,918

-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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Vratsa: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $246 in Dumaguete and $258 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 $29.00 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 10% in total monthly costs ($849 vs $933 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 $258 in Vratsa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $849 per month in Dumaguete versus $933 in Vratsa – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dumaguete runs roughly 105% 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 10% less than in Vratsa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.