Living in Davao City
What it really costs to live in Davao City, what you can earn, the visas that get you in, and the taxes you'll pay — for Philippines, updated 2026. Davao City is the most affordable of the 8 Philippines cities we track, so it can be a smarter base than the capital if budget matters. Davao City lies in South-Eastern Asia. Philippines's capital is Manila. The main languages are Filipino, English. The currency is the Philippine peso.
Cost of Living in Davao City
Full Monthly Breakdown for Davao City
How Davao City Compares to Other Philippines Cities
Davao City is not the only option in Philippines. Here is how its single-person monthly cost (€580) stacks up against the other cities we track — Davao City is the cheapest, Makati the priciest.
| City | Single / month | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Cebu City | €650/mo | +12% vs Davao City |
| Manila (Metro Manila) | €850/mo | +47% vs Davao City |
| Davao | €950/mo | +64% vs Davao City |
| Cebu | €1 050/mo | +81% vs Davao City |
| Quezon City | €1 100/mo | +90% vs Davao City |
| Manila (capital) | €1 200/mo | +107% vs Davao City |
| Makati | €1 400/mo | +141% vs Davao City |
What You Can Earn in Philippines
Typical gross annual salaries in Philippines by sector (entry · median · senior). Davao City pay usually sits around the national median.
| Sector | Entry | Median | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| it | €5 000 | €8 000 | €15 000 |
| retail | €3 500 | €5 000 | €6 500 |
| finance | €9 500 | €13 500 | €19 000 |
| education | €5 000 | €7 500 | €10 500 |
| healthcare | €3 000 | €5 000 | €10 000 |
| engineering | €9 000 | €13 000 | €18 000 |
| hospitality | €3 500 | €5 000 | €7 500 |
| construction | €6 000 | €9 000 | €12 500 |
Living in Davao City: Safety, Health & Climate
Davao City shares Philippines's wider quality-of-life profile. Davao City has a tropical climate. Here is what daily life looks like on the things that matter most when you relocate.
Visa Routes to Philippines
Affording Davao City is only half the question — you also need a visa that lets you stay in Philippines. The main routes:
- A job offer is normally required for the main work route.
- Permanent residence after about 5 years.
- Investment route from about €75 000 (USD).
Taxes in Philippines
Top marginal rate 35%, VAT 12%.
Settling into Davao City
- Foreigners can open a local bank account in Philippines.
- Budget around €850 for first-month setup in Davao City.
- Regulated professions needing credential recognition: Medicine, Law, Engineering, Nursing, Architecture, Teaching.
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Personalised visa options, costs and a 90-day plan for Philippines.
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How much does it cost to live in Davao City?
A single person in central Davao City should budget about €580/month, roughly €493 outside the centre. A family of four needs around €1 400/month.
Can I get a visa to live in Philippines?
Yes — the main route usually needs a job offer, with permanent residence reachable in about 5 years. See the full Philippines visa comparison for the route that fits you.
Sources: salaries, taxes, safety, healthcare and visa data from World Bank, OECD, the Global Peace Index and official government portals. Cost-of-living figures are community-sourced benchmarks — a guide, not a quote. Last reviewed 2026-05.
Related: Philippines Guide · Visa Comparison · All Countries