Dumaguete vs Ubud

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.

Ubud, Indonesia
🇮🇩Indonesia

Ubud

76Freedom Score#32Global rank$2,102Per month

Bali's spiritual heart — rice terraces, yoga, and a world-leading coworking scene set in lush jungle at low tropical prices.

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.

ExpenseDumagueteUbud
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$850✓$2,102
Rent, 1BR city centre$300✓$945
Meal, mid-range$5✓$12
Coworking deskper month$80✓$189
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper34.0✓46.7

Quality of life

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

MeasureDumagueteUbud
Safety
72
49
Healthcare
52
45
Walkability
68
50
English spoken
90
60
Food & dining
65
75
Nightlife
48
55
Outdoors
70
92
Nomad community
62
85
Climate quality
74
84
Public transit
40
30

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureDumagueteUbud
Freedom Score69/10076/100✓
Global rankof 100 cities#51#32✓
Internet45 Mbps✓30 Mbps
Average temperature82°F77°F
Air quality45/10045/100
Airport connectivity35/10070/100✓
Nomad visa30 daysIndonesia visa
Headline tax rateon local income20%24%

Which should you choose?

Choose Dumaguete if runs $1,252/mo cheaper, rent is $645/mo lower, internet is faster at 45 Mbps and it scores higher on safety (72 vs 49).

Choose Ubud if the climate scores better and the nomad community is larger.

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

Ubud

  • Huge nomad & wellness community — instant social circle
  • Tropical jungle setting with rice terraces and temples
  • 0% tax on foreign income for most nomads
  • Coworking density rivals any island on earth

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Dumaguete or Ubud?
Ubud scores higher on the Freedom Score (76/100 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 Ubud?
Dumaguete is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $850 against $2,102, a difference of $1,252 a month or about $15,024 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $300/mo in Dumaguete versus $945/mo in Ubud.
Which is safer: Dumaguete or Ubud?
Dumaguete scores higher on safety, 72/100 against 49/100. 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 Ubud?
Dumaguete averages 45 Mbps and Ubud averages 30 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 Ubud?
Dumaguete sits in Philippines (30 days) and Ubud in Indonesia (Indonesia visa). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
Open the interactive comparison

Related comparisons

Barcelona vs DumagueteDumaguete vs LisbonDumaguete vs PhuketAmsterdam vs DumagueteBarcelona vs UbudLisbon vs UbudPhuket vs UbudAmsterdam vs Ubud
Dumaguete city guideUbud city guideCompare all citiesCost of livingVisas & residencyTax intelligenceBanking & financeRelocation playbooks

YourLifeMatch — your life, perfectly placed. About · Privacy · Terms · Contact

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.