Dumaguete vs Phnom Penh

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.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia
🇰🇭Cambodia

Phnom Penh

62Freedom Score#80Global rank$1,268Per month

Cambodia's riverside capital blends Royal Palace grandeur, French-colonial boulevards, and an easy e-visa with one of Southeast Asia's lowest cost floors.

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.

ExpenseDumaguetePhnom Penh
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$850✓$1,268
Rent, 1BR city centre$300✓$642
Meal, mid-range$5✓$6
Coworking deskper month$80✓$150
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper34.0✓40.0

Quality of life

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

MeasureDumaguetePhnom Penh
Safety
72
58
Healthcare
52
45
Walkability
68
55
English spoken
90
42
Food & dining
65
70
Nightlife
48
65
Outdoors
70
36
Nomad community
62
58
Climate quality
74
68
Public transit
40
42

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureDumaguetePhnom Penh
Freedom Score69/100✓62/100
Global rankof 100 cities#51✓#80
Internet45 Mbps55 Mbps✓
Average temperature82°F84°F
Air quality45/10055/100✓
Airport connectivity35/10062/100✓
Nomad visa30 daysE-visa 30d
Headline tax rateon local income20%10%

Which should you choose?

Choose Dumaguete if runs $418/mo cheaper, rent is $342/mo lower, it scores higher on safety (72 vs 58) and it is more walkable.

Choose Phnom Penh if internet is faster at 55 Mbps 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

Phnom Penh

  • 30-day e-visa on arrival
  • Royal Palace and riverside promenade
  • Among the cheapest SE Asian capitals
  • Friendly, USD-friendly economy

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Dumaguete or Phnom Penh?
Dumaguete scores higher on the Freedom Score (69/100 against 62/100), 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 Phnom Penh?
Dumaguete is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $850 against $1,268, a difference of $418 a month or about $5,016 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $300/mo in Dumaguete versus $642/mo in Phnom Penh.
Which is safer: Dumaguete or Phnom Penh?
Dumaguete scores higher on safety, 72/100 against 58/100. 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 Phnom Penh?
Dumaguete averages 45 Mbps and Phnom Penh averages 55 Mbps, so Phnom Penh has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Dumaguete or Phnom Penh?
Dumaguete sits in Philippines (30 days) and Phnom Penh in Cambodia (E-visa 30d). 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.