Las Pinas vs Dumaguete
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Dumaguete is approximately 86% less expensive than Las Pinas based on cost of living including rent. This makes Dumaguete a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Dumaguete has a FIRE Score of 81/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 64.85, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Dumaguete is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Las Pinas
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Dumaguete
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Dumaguete
Dumaguete is a budget expat's dream on paper, but the local salary of $282/mo versus a single person's $460/mo excluding rent means you'll need outside income or savings to live here comfortably. The $235/mo city-center one-bedroom and $4 restaurant meals are absurdly cheap, yet the $1,500/mo SRRV retirement visa income requirement is nearly triple the comfortable tier total of $580/mo, so retirees need deep pockets relative to local costs. The 75/100 safety index and good healthcare are solid, but the small expat community and 45 Mbps internet cap the appeal for digital nomads despite the 71/100 score. Skip it if you crave nightlife or career opportunities; embrace it if you want a slow, cheap, and safe base near the airport.
About Philippines
Retirees on fixed incomes near the $1,500/mo SRRV minimum get the best deal here: rent outside the center runs under $200 and English is widely spoken, easing daily friction. But that low cost sits against a -1.1 political stability score and only medium expat safety ratings, so this suits people who can tolerate some instability for cash savings. Bad fit: anyone needing top-tier healthcare or a guaranteed path to citizenship.
Dumaguete costs roughly 21% less than Las Pinas. Las Pinas leads on digital nomad infrastructure. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Dumaguete is approximately 86% less expensive than Las Pinas based on cost of living including rent. This makes Dumaguete a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Dumaguete has a FIRE Score of 81/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 64.85, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Dumaguete is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Las Pinas
Las Pinas is a cheap, humid metro Manila suburb where a single adult can live on $900/mo and a comfortable tier runs $2,500/mo, though the local average net salary of $609/mo means most expats are spending foreign income. The rent data is a mess, with a 3-bedroom in the center at $191/mo undercutting a 1-bedroom at $550/mo, so verify any listing before you sign. An air quality index of 90 and a retiree score of 53 are real drawbacks, but a FIRE score of 73 and an overall expat score of 71 make it a solid budget base for digital nomads and savers. English is common in tourist areas, the expat community is medium, and Pilar Village and BF Almanza are the neighborhoods to start with.
About Philippines
Retirees on fixed incomes near the $1,500/mo SRRV minimum get the best deal here: rent outside the center runs under $200 and English is widely spoken, easing daily friction. But that low cost sits against a -1.1 political stability score and only medium expat safety ratings, so this suits people who can tolerate some instability for cash savings. Bad fit: anyone needing top-tier healthcare or a guaranteed path to citizenship.
$2,254/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Dumaguete
Dumaguete is a budget expat's dream on paper, but the local salary of $282/mo versus a single person's $460/mo excluding rent means you'll need outside income or savings to live here comfortably. The $235/mo city-center one-bedroom and $4 restaurant meals are absurdly cheap, yet the $1,500/mo SRRV retirement visa income requirement is nearly triple the comfortable tier total of $580/mo, so retirees need deep pockets relative to local costs. The 75/100 safety index and good healthcare are solid, but the small expat community and 45 Mbps internet cap the appeal for digital nomads despite the 71/100 score. Skip it if you crave nightlife or career opportunities; embrace it if you want a slow, cheap, and safe base near the airport.
About Philippines
Retirees on fixed incomes near the $1,500/mo SRRV minimum get the best deal here: rent outside the center runs under $200 and English is widely spoken, easing daily friction. But that low cost sits against a -1.1 political stability score and only medium expat safety ratings, so this suits people who can tolerate some instability for cash savings. Bad fit: anyone needing top-tier healthcare or a guaranteed path to citizenship.
$2,338/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Las Pinas | Dumaguete |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $550 | $296.04 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $400 | $276.72 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $191.28 | $814.5 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $800 | $354.27 |
| Safety Index | 63.48 | 64.85 |
| Internet Speed | 45Mbps | 45Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Las Pinas | Dumaguete |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $745/mo | $658/mo |
| Excluding rent | $345/mo | $381/mo |
| Rent | $400/mo | $277/mo |
| Groceries | $95.00/mo | $112/mo |
| Dining out | $27.00/mo | $50.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $77.00/mo | $77.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $146/mo | $130/mo |
| Transport | N/A | $12.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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