Dumaguete vs Fukuoka

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.

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.

Fukuoka, Japan
🇯🇵Japan

Fukuoka

73Freedom Score#37Global rank$1,600Per month

Japan's most livable city — compact, green, and affordable by Japanese standards, with legendary ramen, a startup boom, and 90-day visa-free access.

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.

ExpenseDumagueteFukuoka
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$850✓$1,600
Rent, 1BR city centre$300✓$500
Meal, mid-range$5✓$10
Coworking deskper month$80✓$180
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper34.0✓64.0

Quality of life

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

MeasureDumagueteFukuoka
Safety
72
85
Healthcare
52
90
Walkability
68
85
English spoken
90
42
Food & dining
65
90
Nightlife
48
65
Outdoors
70
58
Nomad community
62
58
Climate quality
74
60
Public transit
40
95

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureDumagueteFukuoka
Freedom Score69/10073/100✓
Global rankof 100 cities#51#37✓
Internet45 Mbps100 Mbps✓
Average temperature82°F63°F
Air quality45/100✓30/100
Airport connectivity35/10078/100✓
Nomad visa30 days90 days free
Headline tax rateon local income20%20%

Which should you choose?

Choose Dumaguete if runs $750/mo cheaper, rent is $200/mo lower, English is more widely spoken and the climate scores better.

Choose Fukuoka if internet is faster at 100 Mbps, it scores higher on safety (85 vs 72) and it is more walkable.

What each city is known for

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

Fukuoka

  • Most livable big city in Japan
  • Legendary Hakata ramen scene
  • 90-day visa-free for Western passports
  • Growing startup and coworking hub

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Dumaguete or Fukuoka?
Fukuoka scores higher on the Freedom Score (73/100 against 69/100), 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: Dumaguete or Fukuoka?
Dumaguete is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $850 against $1,600, a difference of $750 a month or about $9,000 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $300/mo in Dumaguete versus $500/mo in Fukuoka.
Which is safer: Dumaguete or Fukuoka?
Fukuoka scores higher on safety, 85/100 against 72/100. 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 Dumaguete and Fukuoka?
Dumaguete averages 45 Mbps and Fukuoka averages 100 Mbps, so Fukuoka has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Dumaguete or Fukuoka?
Dumaguete sits in Philippines (30 days) and Fukuoka in Japan (90 days free). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
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Cost, connectivity and quality-of-life figures come from the YourLifeMatch city dataset. Where a value is not confirmed it reads n.a. rather than an estimate. Figures are for planning, not professional advice.