Visakhapatnam vs Mambajao
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Mambajao is approximately 40% less expensive than Visakhapatnam based on cost of living including rent. This makes Mambajao a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Mambajao has a FIRE Score of 82/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 66, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Mambajao is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Best in rowIndia
Visakhapatnam
Philippines
Mambajao
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Mambajao
Mambajao is a bargain hunter's dream: a 1-bedroom outside the center runs $56/mo and an inexpensive restaurant meal costs $1, so your pesos stretch absurdly far. The catch is that the local average net salary is just $151/mo, which tells you the economy here is not built for earning, only for spending. Pair that with a retiree score of 58/100, limited English, a small expat community, and a wet season from June to November, and Mambajao suits self-funded hermits and FIRE true believers, not anyone chasing a social scene or a local paycheck.
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.
Mambajao costs roughly 3.8x less than Visakhapatnam. Beyond cost, the two cities are closely matched — lifestyle fit and visa options are likely the deciding factors. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Mambajao is approximately 40% less expensive than Visakhapatnam based on cost of living including rent. This makes Mambajao a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Mambajao has a FIRE Score of 82/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 66, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Mambajao is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam is an absurdly cheap coastal city where a city-center one-bedroom runs $150/mo and a mid-range dinner for two costs $8, so your money goes very far even on a local average net salary of $356/mo. The tradeoffs are real: air quality sits at 92, the expat community is small, and the tropical wet and dry climate stays humid year-round. With a safety index of 78, an overall expat score of 85/100, and a FIRE score of 87/100, it suits budget-focused remote workers and savers more than retirees, who score it 69/100.
About India
Skip this one if you need a straightforward retirement or nomad visa: neither exists, and PR/citizenship access is complex and difficult. Rent under $151/mo in city centers makes it a fit for budget-focused remote workers with existing income solutions who can tolerate medium expat safety and moderate political stability.
$2,738/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Mambajao
Mambajao is a bargain hunter's dream: a 1-bedroom outside the center runs $56/mo and an inexpensive restaurant meal costs $1, so your pesos stretch absurdly far. The catch is that the local average net salary is just $151/mo, which tells you the economy here is not built for earning, only for spending. Pair that with a retiree score of 58/100, limited English, a small expat community, and a wet season from June to November, and Mambajao suits self-funded hermits and FIRE true believers, not anyone chasing a social scene or a local paycheck.
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.
$2,766/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Visakhapatnam | Mambajao |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $139.28 | $99.62 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $68.08 | $55.79 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $355.33 | $239.1 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $185.61 | $159.4 |
| Safety Index | 63 | 66 |
| Internet Speed | 39.4Mbps | 20Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Visakhapatnam | Mambajao |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $262/mo | $234/mo |
| Excluding rent | $194/mo | $178/mo |
| Rent | $68.00/mo | $56.00/mo |
| Groceries | $66.00/mo | $67.00/mo |
| Dining out | $21.00/mo | $14.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $51.00/mo | $13.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $42.00/mo | $84.00/mo |
| Transport | $14.00/mo | N/A |
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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