Alexandria vs Dumaguete

Real cost of living, rent, internet, safety and visa terms for both cities, side by side — then open the interactive tool to weight them against your own priorities.

Alexandria, Egypt
🇪🇬Egypt

Alexandria

62Freedom Score#77Global rank$700Per month

Egypt's Mediterranean pearl — the Qaitbay Citadel on the Corniche, the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and seafront cafés at a fraction of Cairo's cost.

Dumaguete, Philippines
🇵🇭Philippines

Dumaguete

69Freedom Score#51Global rank$850Per month

The 'City of Gentle People' — Dumaguete is a laid-back Philippine university town with 90% English proficiency, warm dives at Apo Island, and one of the lowest costs of living in Asia.

The short answer

Compare these two in the full toolBoth cities pre-loaded — add your income and priorities to get a personal match score

Cost of living

Monthly figures for one person. Rent, meals and coworking are measured values, not shares of the total budget.

ExpenseAlexandriaDumaguete
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$700$850
Rent, 1BR city centre$180$300
Meal, mid-range$6$5
Coworking deskper monthn.a.$80
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper28.034.0

Quality of life

Scored 0–100 on the same attributes the match engine weights, so these agree with the interactive tool.

MeasureAlexandriaDumaguete
Safety
62
72
Healthcare
45
52
Walkability
62
68
English spoken
35
90
Food & dining
65
65
Nightlife
32
48
Outdoors
37
70
Nomad community
35
62
Climate quality
72
74
Public transit
45
40

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureAlexandriaDumaguete
Freedom Score62/10069/100
Global rankof 100 cities#77#51
Internet40 Mbps45 Mbps
Average temperature72°F82°F
Air quality65/10045/100
Airport connectivity48/10035/100
Nomad visaE-visa 30d30 days
Headline tax rateon local income18%20%

Which should you choose?

Choose Alexandria if runs $150/mo cheaper, rent is $120/mo lower and the headline tax rate is lower.

Choose Dumaguete if internet is faster at 45 Mbps, it scores higher on safety (72 vs 62), it is more walkable and English is more widely spoken.

What each city is known for

Alexandria

  • Citadel of Qaitbay on the Mediterranean
  • Bibliotheca Alexandrina reborn
  • Seafront Corniche and seafood
  • Cheaper and calmer than Cairo

Dumaguete

  • 90% English proficiency — easiest Asian city for English speakers
  • Gateway to Apo Island's world-class diving and whale sharks
  • Among the most affordable cities on the platform at $850/mo
  • Philippines' 0% territorial tax on foreign-sourced income

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Alexandria or Dumaguete?
Dumaguete scores higher on the Freedom Score (69/100 against 62/100), which makes it the stronger all-round base. That is an average, though — if cost, climate or community is what actually decides it for you, the tables above will point the other way as often as not.
Which is cheaper: Alexandria or Dumaguete?
Alexandria is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $700 against $850, a difference of $150 a month or about $1,800 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $180/mo in Alexandria versus $300/mo in Dumaguete.
Which is safer: Alexandria or Dumaguete?
Dumaguete scores higher on safety, 72/100 against 62/100. Safety scores blend crime levels, political stability and healthcare access, and they describe a city as a whole — individual neighbourhoods vary far more than the headline number suggests.
How fast is the internet in Alexandria and Dumaguete?
Alexandria averages 40 Mbps and Dumaguete averages 45 Mbps, so Dumaguete has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Alexandria or Dumaguete?
Alexandria sits in Egypt (E-visa 30d) and Dumaguete in Philippines (30 days). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
Open the interactive comparison

Related comparisons