Davao, Philippines
Editor
March 12, 2023
The city of Davao in the Philippines is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking for a unique and exciting place to work and explore. With its tropical climate, stunning beaches, and vibrant culture, Davao is the perfect place to live and work remotely. The city is also home to a number of coworking spaces, making it easy to find a place to work and collaborate with other digital nomads. Additionally, Davao is one of the most affordable cities in the Philippines, with a cost of living that is significantly lower than other major cities in the country. According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Davao is around 40% lower than in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Furthermore, Davao is a safe city with a low crime rate, making it a great place to live and work without worrying about safety. With its combination of affordability, safety, and vibrant culture, Davao is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking for a unique and exciting place to work and explore.
Living in Davao, Philippines: Overview
Overall score | Worksplorer index
-
109%
Quality of life -
23%
Cost of living -
72%
Connectivity -
59%
Weather
49
General
| Currency | PHP |
| Population (in millions) | 1.6 |
| Quality of life (world rank from 1 to 200) | Unranked |
| Cost of living compared to Chicago, USA | 40% cheaper |
| Best neighborhood to stay | Buhangin, Davao City |
Culture
| Number of museums and galleries | 8 |
| Top selling local beer | San Miguel |
| Most popular local dish | Kinilaw |
Travel
| Most popular tourist attraction(s) | Mount Apo, Philippine Eagle Center, Malagos Garden Resort |
| Discount airline | Cebu Pacific |
| Major airline | Philippine Airlines |
| Largest ride sharing company | Grab |
| Primary train stations | Davao City Overland Transport Terminal, Davao Railway Station, and Davao South Bus Terminal |
| Primary airports | Francisco Bangoy International Airport, Sasa International Airport, and Tagum-Mati National Airport |
| Best rental car company | Hertz |
| Used car costs | 500000 PHP |
Connectivity
| Apple store addresses | SM Lanang Premier, J.P. Laurel Ave, Lanang, Davao City, Philippines |
| Internet connection (in Mbps) | 10 Mbps |
| Power socket type | A,B,C |
| Supply voltage | 220V |
| Best electronics store | Abenson |
| Best internet carrier | Globe |
| Primary cellular carrier | Globe |
| Average monthly cost for internet | 1,000 PHP |
Shopping
| The best drug store | Watsons |
| Best restaurant chain | Dencia's |
| The best grocery store | Robinsons |
| The most popular fashion brand | SM |
Regulatory
| GDP per capita | $3,845 / year |
| Average annual income | $14,000 |
| Sales tax rate | 12% |
| Income tax rate | 0% |
| Tourist visa valid (in days) | 30 |
Financial
| Average mortgage rate | 8.5% |
| Suggested ATM take out | 5000 PHP |
| Bank that has the most ATM machines | BDO |
| Average tip in restaurant | 10-15% |
| Pay using credit or debit card | Not very common |
Health
| Emergency Phone Numbers | 911 (general), 082-227-8888 (police), 082-227-3873 (ambulance), 082-227- |
| Polution per square meter | 545 |
| Health quality rank (according to WHO) | Not available |
| Main religion | Christianity |
Quality of life
109%
-
72%
Safety, freedom, rights -
99%
Traffic -
320%
Property to income -
28%
Crime -
73%
Healthcare -
59%
Weather
Salaries
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | ₱15,357 |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 6.43% |
Childcare
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | ₱7,083 |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | ₱450,000 |
Cost of living
23%
-
Purchasing Power
21%
-
Rent
7%
-
Food
39%
-
Restaurant
23%
-
Workspace
56%
-
Transport
27%
Rent
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre Per Month | ₱14,857.14 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre Per Month | ₱8,375.00 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre Per Month | ₱36,000.00 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre Per Month | ₱16,200.00 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend), Sports And Leisure | ₱250.00 |
Food
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | ₱93.33 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | ₱71.00 |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | ₱104.87 |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | ₱312.50 |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | ₱32.67 |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | ₱500.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | ₱69.17 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | ₱87.00 |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | ₱150.00 |
| Chicken Fillets (1kg) | ₱266.67 |
| Apples (1kg) | ₱216.67 |
| Oranges (1kg) | ₱135.33 |
| Potato (1kg) | ₱128.25 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | ₱75.50 |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | ₱49.25 |
| Tomato (1kg) | ₱90.25 |
| Banana (1kg) | ₱63.40 |
| Onion (1kg) | ₱195.00 |
| Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | ₱412.50 |
Restaurants
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | ₱200.00 |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | ₱1,500.00 |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | ₱200.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | ₱55.00 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | ₱72.50 |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) | ₱43.71 |
| Water (0.33 liter bottle) | ₱23.75 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | ₱129.29 |
Connectivity
94%
Infrastructure
89/100
Internet speed
92/100
Internet cost
95/100
Pre-paid plan
98/100
Utilities (Monthly)
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment | ₱5,656.25 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) | ₱7.50 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | ₱2,256.86 |
Sports
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | ₱2,783.33 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | ₱250.00 |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | ₱255.00 |
Transportation
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | ₱12.00 |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | ₱800.00 |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | ₱73.54 |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | ₱1,300,000.00 |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | ₱1,175,000.00 |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | ₱45.00 |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | ₱13.50 |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | ₱100.00 |