😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $852 in Dumaguete.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,330 in Dumaguete.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,807 in Dumaguete.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 169% more expensive than in Dumaguete, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Dumaguete is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Dumaguete
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$3.25₱200
398.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$14.16₱872
347.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$4.47₱275
130.87%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$2.33₱143
21.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.72₱44.34
218.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.36₱22.41
338.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.08₱66.4
214.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$2.08₱128
93.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Dumaguete
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.73₱107
-36.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$1.47₱90.2
19.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.02₱63.0
72.55%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.00₱123
58.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$9.83₱605
34.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$5.11₱314
55.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$7.69₱474
101.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$1.81₱112
30.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.38₱84.8
23.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$3.97₱244
-49.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.39₱85.4
74.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.38₱146
-26.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$2.52₱155
-19.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.92₱56.8
108.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.64₱39.50
32.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$2.72₱167
141.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$8.00₱493
-30.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.21₱74.6
9.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.96₱120
51.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Dumaguete
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.47₱28.78
385.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
$8.96₱552
411.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$0.83₱50.9
409.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.27₱16.79
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$0.91₱56.3
1926.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.15₱70.6
80.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$23.0K₱1.4M
50.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$39.3K₱2.4M
-0.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Dumaguete
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$72.3₱4,451
104.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$45.08₱2,775
-54.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$29.31₱1,804
34.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Dumaguete
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$23.57₱1,451
103.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$3.50₱215
431.43%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$6.21₱383
48.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Dumaguete
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$71.3₱4,391
763.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$1,875₱115.4K
777.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Dumaguete
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$107₱6,588
-4.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$35.68₱2,197
16.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$112₱6,908
-15.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$84.7₱5,214
44.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Dumaguete
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$239₱14.7K
582.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$209₱12.9K
490.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$430₱26.5K
620.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$421₱25.9K
382.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
$3,056₱188.1K
156.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
$702₱43.2K
525.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Dumaguete
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
$292₱18.0K
450.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.5
-41.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Dumaguete: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $239 in Dumaguete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 451% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $14.00 in Dumaguete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $212 per month, with Dumaguete cheaper across the board.
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
Lisbon vs Dumaguete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Dumaguete?
Lisbon and Dumaguete differ by about 169% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $852 including rent). Dumaguete is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Dumaguete?
Average pay runs 451% higher in Lisbon, 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 Lisbon and in Dumaguete?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $239 in Dumaguete. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Dumaguete?
All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $852 in Dumaguete – a 169% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Lisbon and in Dumaguete?
A monthly transit pass in Dumaguete runs roughly 411% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $852 in Dumaguete versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dumaguete but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Dumaguete the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Dumaguete?
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 Lisbon or Dumaguete safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Dumaguete are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Dumaguete?
Expats usually find Dumaguete gentler on the wallet – expenses run 169% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.