Dumaguete vs Oaxaca

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.

Oaxaca, Mexico
🇲🇽Mexico

Oaxaca

73Freedom Score#38Global rank$1,108Per month

Mexico's culinary capital — mole, mezcal, and colonial streets at ultra-low cost, with a fast-growing slow-travel nomad scene.

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.

ExpenseDumagueteOaxaca
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$850✓$1,108
Rent, 1BR city centre$300✓$498
Meal, mid-range$5✓$8
Coworking deskper month$80✓$99
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper34.024.6✓

Quality of life

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

MeasureDumagueteOaxaca
Safety
72
57
Healthcare
52
55
Walkability
68
75
English spoken
90
50
Food & dining
65
95
Nightlife
48
65
Outdoors
70
66
Nomad community
62
60
Climate quality
74
90
Public transit
40
45

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureDumagueteOaxaca
Freedom Score69/10073/100✓
Global rankof 100 cities#51#38✓
Internet45 Mbps✓35 Mbps
Average temperature82°F68°F
Air quality45/100✓42/100
Airport connectivity35/10042/100✓
Nomad visa30 daysMexico DN visa
Headline tax rateon local income20%15%

Which should you choose?

Choose Dumaguete if runs $258/mo cheaper, rent is $198/mo lower, internet is faster at 45 Mbps and it scores higher on safety (72 vs 57).

Choose Oaxaca if it is more walkable, the climate scores better 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

Oaxaca

  • Legendary food scene — mole, mezcal, and street markets
  • Among the cheapest cities on this list — under $1,200/mo
  • US market opens 8:30am local — early-bird trading
  • Colonial UNESCO centre, walkable and deeply cultural

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Dumaguete or Oaxaca?
Oaxaca 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 Oaxaca?
Dumaguete is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $850 against $1,108, a difference of $258 a month or about $3,096 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $300/mo in Dumaguete versus $498/mo in Oaxaca.
Which is safer: Dumaguete or Oaxaca?
Dumaguete scores higher on safety, 72/100 against 57/100. 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 Oaxaca?
Dumaguete averages 45 Mbps and Oaxaca averages 35 Mbps, so Dumaguete has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Dumaguete or Oaxaca?
Dumaguete sits in Philippines (30 days) and Oaxaca in Mexico (Mexico DN visa). 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.