Dumaguete vs Ljubljana
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.
Ljubljana
Slovenia's storybook capital — car-free centre, the Alps and Adriatic within reach, and the fastest average internet on this list.
The short answer
- Ljubljana scores higher overall, 76/100 vs 69/100
- Dumaguete is cheaper by $1,330/mo — about $15,960 a year
- Ljubljana is the safer of the two, 78/100 vs 72/100
- Ljubljana has faster internet, 90 Mbps vs 45 Mbps
Cost of living
Monthly figures for one person. Rent, meals and coworking are measured values, not shares of the total budget.
| Expense | Dumaguete | Ljubljana |
|---|---|---|
| Comfortable budgetper month, all in | $850✓ | $2,180 |
| Rent, 1BR city centre | $300✓ | $981 |
| Meal, mid-range | $5✓ | $12 |
| Coworking deskper month | $80✓ | $196 |
| Cost of living indexlower is cheaper | 34.0✓ | 48.4 |
Quality of life
Scored 0–100 on the same attributes the match engine weights, so these agree with the interactive tool.
| Measure | Dumaguete | Ljubljana |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | ||
| Healthcare | ||
| Walkability | ||
| English spoken | ||
| Food & dining | ||
| Nightlife | ||
| Outdoors | ||
| Nomad community | ||
| Climate quality | ||
| Public transit |
Scores, connectivity and paperwork
| Measure | Dumaguete | Ljubljana |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom Score | 69/100 | 76/100✓ |
| Global rankof 100 cities | #51 | #30✓ |
| Internet | 45 Mbps | 90 Mbps✓ |
| Average temperature | 82°F | 52°F |
| Air quality | 45/100✓ | 38/100 |
| Airport connectivity | 35/100 | 52/100✓ |
| Nomad visa | 30 days | 90-day+ stay |
| Headline tax rateon local income | 20% | 24% |
Which should you choose?
Choose Dumaguete if runs $1,330/mo cheaper, rent is $681/mo lower, English is more widely spoken and the nomad community is larger.
Choose Ljubljana if internet is faster at 90 Mbps, it scores higher on safety (78 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
Ljubljana
- Fastest average internet of the new cities (~386 Mbps)
- Car-free green city centre — exceptionally walkable & safe
- Alps and Adriatic coast both under two hours away
- Safe, clean, and central to the rest of Europe