Dumaguete vs La Paz
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.
La Paz
The world's highest capital drapes across an Andean canyon — Mi Teleférico cable cars, witch markets, and dramatic peaks at a price that's hard to beat.
The short answer
- Dumaguete scores higher overall, 69/100 vs 52/100
- La Paz is cheaper by $150/mo — about $1,800 a year
- Dumaguete is the safer of the two, 72/100 vs 42/100
- Dumaguete has faster internet, 45 Mbps vs 40 Mbps
Cost of living
Monthly figures for one person. Rent, meals and coworking are measured values, not shares of the total budget.
| Expense | Dumaguete | La Paz |
|---|---|---|
| Comfortable budgetper month, all in | $850 | $700✓ |
| Rent, 1BR city centre | $300 | $280✓ |
| Meal, mid-range | $5✓ | $6 |
| Coworking deskper month | $80 | n.a. |
| Cost of living indexlower is cheaper | 34.0 | 28.0✓ |
Quality of life
Scored 0–100 on the same attributes the match engine weights, so these agree with the interactive tool.
| Measure | Dumaguete | La Paz |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | ||
| Healthcare | ||
| Walkability | ||
| English spoken | ||
| Food & dining | ||
| Nightlife | ||
| Outdoors | ||
| Nomad community | ||
| Climate quality | ||
| Public transit |
Scores, connectivity and paperwork
| Measure | Dumaguete | La Paz |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom Score | 69/100✓ | 52/100 |
| Global rankof 100 cities | #51✓ | #97 |
| Internet | 45 Mbps✓ | 40 Mbps |
| Average temperature | 82°F | 52°F |
| Air quality | 45/100✓ | 40/100 |
| Airport connectivity | 35/100 | 45/100✓ |
| Nomad visa | 30 days | 90 days free |
| Headline tax rateon local income | 20% | 13% |
Which should you choose?
Choose Dumaguete if internet is faster at 45 Mbps, it scores higher on safety (72 vs 42), it is more walkable and English is more widely spoken.
Choose La Paz if runs $150/mo cheaper, rent is $20/mo lower and the headline tax rate is lower.
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
La Paz
- Mi Teleférico: the world's longest urban cable car
- Lowest living costs of any capital
- Witch market and pre-Inca traditions
- Dramatic Andean canyon skyline