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: $968 in Manila versus $839 in Dumaguete.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,526 in Manila versus $1,320 in Dumaguete.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,085 in Manila versus $1,801 in Dumaguete.

Living in Manila is roughly 15% more expensive than in Dumaguete, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 27% lower, Dumaguete 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱331

$3.10 ₱190

74.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,604

$14.40 ₱881

81.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱264

$4.45 ₱272

-2.92%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱162

$2.32 ₱142

14.22%

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

$0.96 ₱58.6

$0.76 ₱46.56

26.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.24

$0.40 ₱24.31

35.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.4

$1.08 ₱66.1

41.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱167

$2.09 ₱128

30.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱116

$1.73 ₱106

9.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.5

$1.48 ₱90.5

-10.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.6

$0.96 ₱59.1

13.54%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$1.92 ₱117

9.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱556

$9.50 ₱582

-4.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱313

$5.26 ₱322

-2.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱509

$7.78 ₱476

6.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱213

$1.75 ₱107

98.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱112

$1.44 ₱87.9

27.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$4.02 ₱246

-9.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.45 ₱88.6

71.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$2.39 ₱146

12.13%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱189

$2.62 ₱161

17.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$0.87 ₱53.0

128.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.73

$0.65 ₱39.74

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.60 ₱159

29.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱609

$7.91 ₱484

25.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.6

$1.17 ₱71.4

23.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.96 ₱120

9.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.48

$0.51 ₱31.03

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱738

$8.61 ₱527

40.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.1

$0.82 ₱50.1

6.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.66

$0.27 ₱16.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$0.93 ₱56.7

124.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.0

$1.10 ₱67.2

2.73%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$23.1K ₱1.4M

14.66%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$39.0K ₱2.4M

-41.01%

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

$136 ₱8,317

$74.3 ₱4,546

82.94%

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

$22.22 ₱1,360

$43.56 ₱2,667

-48.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,690

$29.45 ₱1,803

-6.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,616

$23.05 ₱1,411

85.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱431

$3.47 ₱212

102.88%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱408

$6.44 ₱394

3.57%

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

$363 ₱22.2K

$70.8 ₱4,334

412.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱694.8K

$1,834 ₱112.3K

518.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,875

$107 ₱6,547

-56.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,122

$35.49 ₱2,172

-2.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,084

$111 ₱6,780

-25.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,830

$83.4 ₱5,107

-44.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱29.9K

$239 ₱14.6K

104.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.1K

$211 ₱12.9K

24.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.4K

$440 ₱26.9K

287.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.4K

$415 ₱25.4K

51.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱270.2K

$3,079 ₱188.5K

43.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱154.6K

$697 ₱42.7K

262.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.1K

$292 ₱17.9K

68.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.5

15.69%

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

Last update for Manila: July 25, 2026

Last update for Dumaguete: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $488 in Manila and $239 in Dumaguete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 69% 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: $26.00 in Manila vs $14.00 in Dumaguete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 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

Manila vs Dumaguete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila and Dumaguete differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($968 vs $839 including rent). Dumaguete is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 69% 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: $488 in Manila versus $239 in Dumaguete. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $968 per month in Manila versus $839 in Dumaguete – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dumaguete runs roughly 40% less than in Manila. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $839 in Dumaguete versus $968 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 15% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.