Dumaguete vs Hoi An
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
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.
Hoi An
A UNESCO lantern-lit old town between rice paddies and the river — Vietnam's most picturesque base, with 45-day visa-free and rock-bottom costs.
The short answer
- Hoi An scores higher overall, 71/100 vs 69/100
- Dumaguete is cheaper by $200/mo — about $2,400 a year
- Hoi An is the safer of the two, 82/100 vs 72/100
Cost of living
Monthly figures for one person. Rent, meals and coworking are measured values, not shares of the total budget.
| Expense | Dumaguete | Hoi An |
|---|---|---|
| Comfortable budgetper month, all in | $850✓ | $1,050 |
| Rent, 1BR city centre | $300✓ | $400 |
| Meal, mid-range | $5✓ | $6 |
| Coworking deskper month | $80✓ | $100 |
| Cost of living indexlower is cheaper | 34.0✓ | 40.0 |
Quality of life
Scored 0–100 on the same attributes the match engine weights, so these agree with the interactive tool.
| Measure | Dumaguete | Hoi An |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | ||
| Healthcare | ||
| Walkability | ||
| English spoken | ||
| Food & dining | ||
| Nightlife | ||
| Outdoors | ||
| Nomad community | ||
| Climate quality | ||
| Public transit |
Scores, connectivity and paperwork
| Measure | Dumaguete | Hoi An |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom Score | 69/100 | 71/100✓ |
| Global rankof 100 cities | #51 | #43✓ |
| Internet | 45 Mbps | 45 Mbps |
| Average temperature | 82°F | 79°F |
| Air quality | 45/100✓ | 40/100 |
| Airport connectivity | 35/100 | 35/100 |
| Nomad visa | 30 days | 45 days free |
| Headline tax rateon local income | 20% | 20% |
Which should you choose?
Choose Dumaguete if runs $200/mo cheaper, rent is $100/mo lower, English is more widely spoken and the nomad community is larger.
Choose Hoi An if it scores higher on safety (82 vs 72), it is more walkable and the climate scores better.
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
Hoi An
- UNESCO old town of lanterns and tailors
- 45-day visa-free for Westerners
- Among the cheapest nomad towns
- Rice paddies and river beaches