Davao City cost of living lowest vs top global cities
* Also top city in the country visited by foreign diplomats
By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – Davao City is the least expensive than several major cities worldwide in terms of restaurant prices, rent, and groceries, according to a comparison using Numbeo’s cost-of-living data.
Using Davao as the baseline, the comparison showed that London, Dubai, New York, Berlin, Barcelona, and Tokyo had higher costs across all three categories. Rio de Janeiro recorded slightly cheaper grocery prices.
New York posted the widest price differences, with restaurant costs 303% higher than Davao, rent 1,144% higher, and grocery prices 208% higher.
London followed with restaurant prices 267% higher, rent 687% higher, and groceries 109% higher than in Davao.
In Dubai, restaurant prices were 185% higher, rent 584% higher, and groceries 44% higher. Berlin recorded increases of 180% in restaurants, 307% in rent, and 88% in groceries.
Barcelona’s restaurant prices were 154% higher than Davao’s, while rent was 335% more expensive and groceries 73% higher.
Tokyo, meanwhile, recorded increases of 47% in restaurant prices, 239% in rent, and 69% in groceries.
Rio de Janeiro had the smallest differences among the cities, with restaurant prices 33% higher and rent 88% higher than in Davao. Its grocery prices were 2% lower.
Numbeo’s Davao cost-of-living page, updated on November 10, 2026, listed an average meal at an inexpensive restaurant at P350 and a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant at P1,850.
Monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment was estimated at P23,780 in the city center and P14,783 outside it.
For groceries, the platform listed the average prices as P130.50 for a dozen large eggs, P133.33 for a liter of milk, and P149.69 for a pound of chicken fillets.
The Davao database contained 277 price entries submitted by 25 contributors over the preceding 12 months as of its latest update.
Numbeo gathers consumer price information through user submissions and other sources, including supermarket websites and government institutions.
Its figures are estimates and may vary depending on location, purchasing habits, and individual consumption patterns.
The comparison comes as Davao City continues to receive foreign diplomatic representatives exploring possible economic and investment partnerships.
The latest engagements involved Belgian Ambassador Vladislava Iordanova and Dutch Ambassador Roderick Wols, who separately met Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte on November 10 to discuss investment opportunities and cooperation in agriculture, food processing, and export development.
Iordanova identified potential partnerships in banana and fruit processing, sustainable cacao production, and agricultural research, including opportunities for technology transfer and improved farming practices.
Meanwhile, discussions with Wols covered agricultural modernization, land reform, food security, and export-oriented industries.
The Dutch ambassador also expressed interest in promoting Davao City’s investment opportunities in the Netherlands.
Their visits followed courtesy calls by Italian Ambassador Davide Giglio on October 20, United States Ambassador Lee Lipton on October 22, and New Zealand Ambassador Catherine McIntosh on October 26.
The Davao City Investment and Promotion Center has been encouraging foreign diplomats to help bring investors and establish business partnerships that could generate employment and contribute to the city’s economy.
Davao City is promoting 10 preferred investment areas, including agribusiness, technology, tourism, education, infrastructure, and light manufacturing.
