Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Dumaguete Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Dumaguete

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $959 in Manila versus $806 in Dumaguete.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,506 in Manila versus $1,208 in Dumaguete.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,052 in Manila versus $1,611 in Dumaguete.

Living in Manila is roughly 19% more expensive than in Dumaguete, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 30% lower, Dumaguete 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱341

$3.73 ₱234

45.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,664

$15.69 ₱984

69.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$4.26 ₱267

-7.98%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱158

$2.32 ₱145

8.19%

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

$1.39 ₱87.0

$0.76 ₱47.96

82.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.43 ₱27.06

93.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.0

$1.38 ₱86.5

-15.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.89 ₱119

44.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.67 ₱105

13.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.8

$1.32 ₱82.9

6.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱62.0

$0.93 ₱58.5

6.45%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$1.74 ₱109

32.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱490

$8.53 ₱535

-8.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱309

$4.30 ₱270

14.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱446

$7.22 ₱453

-1.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$1.61 ₱101

100.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.29 ₱81.0

46.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$3.55 ₱222

-15.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱114

$1.30 ₱81.6

40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$2.51 ₱157

-11.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱165

$2.32 ₱145

12.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$0.77 ₱48.10

181.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.12

$0.58 ₱36.52

1.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱199

$2.40 ₱150

32.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱597

$8.79 ₱551

8.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.5

$1.13 ₱71.2

13.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$1.30 ₱81.3

55.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.25

$0.38 ₱23.98

23.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱806

$10.12 ₱635

26.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.26

$0.70 ₱43.63

10.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.44

$0.15 ₱9.33

53.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

$2.10 ₱132

-6.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.5

$0.98 ₱61.7

29.59%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

5.33%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$24.7K ₱1.5M

-20.30%

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

$122 ₱7,639

$67.5 ₱4,235

80.38%

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

$15.16 ₱951

$9.72 ₱610

55.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,505

$26.66 ₱1,672

-9.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,673

$24.38 ₱1,529

74.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱357

$4.07 ₱255

39.80%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱432

$6.96 ₱437

-1.15%

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

$618 ₱38.8K

$59.2 ₱3,715

943.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱555.9K

$1,674 ₱105.0K

429.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,658

$97.1 ₱6,089

-39.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,751

$32.32 ₱2,027

-13.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,881

$99.4 ₱6,234

-21.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,667

$113 ₱7,105

-48.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.2K

$234 ₱14.7K

132.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$209 ₱13.1K

36.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$434 ₱27.2K

344.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.2K

$357 ₱22.4K

88.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱275.8K

$3,061 ₱192.0K

43.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.5K

$668 ₱41.9K

278.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

$279 ₱17.5K

70.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.14%

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

Last update for Manila: September 12, 2026

Last update for Dumaguete: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $545 in Manila and $234 in Dumaguete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 71% 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: $27.00 in Manila vs $16.00 in Dumaguete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 vs $194 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

Manila vs Dumaguete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila and Dumaguete differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($959 vs $806 including rent). Dumaguete is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 71% higher in Manila, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $545 in Manila versus $234 in Dumaguete. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $959 per month in Manila versus $806 in Dumaguete – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dumaguete runs roughly 27% less than in Manila. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $806 in Dumaguete versus $959 in Manila, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dumaguete but tight or insufficient in Manila. The gap between the two cities makes Dumaguete the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Manila 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.

Expats usually find Dumaguete gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.