Moving to a different city is one of the best way to cut cost. It can also open up a number of new and exciting opportunities for you. Whether you’re a Filipino looking to relocate or an expat searching for a place to start a new life in, there are a number of cities here in the Philippines that have inexpensive cost of living that you can choose from. Below are 10 cities in the Philippines with the cheapest cost of living.

Dumaguete City

Dumaguete is a small city found in Negros Oriental. It’s laid-back and relaxed atmosphere gave it the nickname The City of Gentle People. It’s also known as a university town since it’s a popular destination for students from the surrounding cities and provinces. There are four universities in Dumaguete, Silliman University being the most popular of them. There are also a number of colleges in the city that offer a variety of courses. The city also has up-to-date medical facilities and institutions that can perform major and minor operations. A budget of ₱18,000 to ₱20,000 a month, you’ll have enough to live in a nice apartment in the more expensive part of the city.

Davao City

A major city in Mindanao, Davao City is the biggest city in the Philippines in terms of land area. Davao city is known to be one of the fastest growing cities in the county, as well as one of the safest to live in. It also has all the comforts of a highly urbanized city, such as world-class healthcare institutions, malls, and shopping centers, while being surrounded by nature. The city is close to Mt. Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippine, making it a great place to live in for nature lovers. Estimated monthly expenses for a single person to live comfortably in Davao City is at ₱19,000 to ₱22,000.

Bacolod City

Bacolod City is the capital of the province of Negros Occidental and is called the city of smiles. It has a fast growing information technology (IT) and business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, but the city is better known for its agricultural past. In fact, you can still see thousands of hectares of sugar cane growing in the outskirts of the city. Based on the “Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project 2005” of Asian Institute of Management (AIM), quality of life is better in Bacolod compared to other mid-sized cities such as Baguio and Iloilo. With ₱20,000 to ₱22,000 a month, a single person can live a comfortable life in the city of smiles.