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: $958 in Manila versus $854 in Dumaguete.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,515 in Manila versus $1,326 in Dumaguete.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,073 in Manila versus $1,798 in Dumaguete.

Living in Manila is roughly 12% more expensive than Dumaguete, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 29% lower, Dumaguete 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 ₱331

$3.10 ₱188

75.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 ₱1,596

$13.94 ₱847

88.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱263

$4.52 ₱275

-4.42%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ₱164

$2.24 ₱136

20.98%

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

$0.91 ₱55.0

$0.71 ₱43.27

28.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.36 ₱21.93

38.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 ₱91.0

$1.09 ₱66.3

37.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₱160

$2.09 ₱127

25.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.70 ₱103

11.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱83.8

$1.43 ₱87.1

-3.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.9

$0.97 ₱59.2

11.34%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱130

$2.00 ₱121

7.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 ₱578

$9.41 ₱572

1.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ₱324

$5.09 ₱309

4.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 ₱508

$8.04 ₱488

4.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱206

$1.78 ₱108

90.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.45 ₱87.9

25.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱222

$4.07 ₱247

-10.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱151

$1.45 ₱88.0

71.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱169

$2.37 ₱144

17.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₱185

$2.61 ₱159

16.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ₱124

$0.90 ₱54.9

126.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₱39.71

$0.60 ₱36.60

8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ₱208

$2.62 ₱159

30.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱577

$8.01 ₱487

18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.23 ₱74.8

17.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱130

$1.97 ₱120

8.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.13

$0.47 ₱28.43

8.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 ₱719

$8.97 ₱544

32.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱55.5

$0.83 ₱50.1

9.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.18

$0.25 ₱15.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱126

$0.91 ₱55.1

128.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.3

$1.15 ₱69.8

0.87%

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

$26.3K ₱1.6M

$23.2K ₱1.4M

13.19%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$39.1K ₱2.4M

-42.73%

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

$136 ₱8,261

$73.2 ₱4,443

85.96%

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

$22.24 ₱1,350

$44.75 ₱2,718

-50.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.14 ₱1,648

$29.04 ₱1,763

-6.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ₱2,559

$23.81 ₱1,446

77.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ₱418

$3.65 ₱221

88.49%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱400

$6.24 ₱379

5.45%

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

$362 ₱22.0K

$72.5 ₱4,401

398.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱681.7K

$1,825 ₱110.8K

515.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.99 ₱2,853

$107 ₱6,510

-56.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 ₱2,148

$36.05 ₱2,189

-1.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,001

$109 ₱6,597

-24.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.51 ₱2,824

$82.8 ₱5,028

-43.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₱29.8K

$247 ₱15.0K

99.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.3K

$209 ₱12.7K

28.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 ₱104.8K

$443 ₱26.9K

289.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 ₱37.7K

$419 ₱25.4K

48.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,269 ₱259.2K

$3,067 ₱186.2K

39.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,574 ₱156.3K

$698 ₱42.4K

268.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$487 ₱29.5K

$291 ₱17.7K

66.96%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Dumaguete: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $491 in Manila and $247 in Dumaguete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 67% 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 $242 vs $211 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 12% in total monthly costs ($958 vs $854 including rent). Dumaguete is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Manila pays 67% more on average, 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: $491 in Manila versus $247 in Dumaguete. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $958 per month in Manila versus $854 in Dumaguete – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dumaguete runs roughly 32% less than in Manila. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $854 in Dumaguete versus $958 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 12% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.