Surviving Cagayan de Oro on a Freelance Photographer's Budget

so here's the deal with cagayan de oro. i moved here thinking it'd be cheaper than manila, but let me tell you - the cost of living here is like that ex who says they've changed but still shows up late to dinner. unpredictable and mildly disappointing.

first off, rent. if you're looking for a decent one-bedroom in centro, expect to shell out around 12,000-15,000 pesos monthly. that's about $220-$275 USD. not terrible, but definitely not the "dirt cheap paradise" some bloggers promised. my studio in cugman district costs me 11,500 pesos, and i have to deal with roosters that think 4 AM is a reasonable time to practice their vocals.

food-wise, you can survive on street food for like 50 pesos a meal, but if you want actual vegetables that haven't been sitting in the sun since yesterday, budget around 5,000 pesos monthly. the local market near my place has these amazing mangosteens, but good luck finding fresh basil without selling a kidney.

internet here is a whole other story. my 50mbps plan costs 1,800 pesos monthly, and it goes out more often than my motivation on monday mornings. seriously, if you're a digital nomad thinking cdo is your next move, triple-check your backup plans.

here's a quick breakdown of my monthly expenses:
- Rent: 11,500 pesos
- Utilities (electric, water): 2,500 pesos
- Internet: 1,800 pesos
- Food: 5,000 pesos
- Transportation: 2,000 pesos
- Coffee (non-negotiable): 3,000 pesos
- Miscellaneous/emergency fund: 3,000 pesos

total: roughly 28,800 pesos or about $530 USD

now, the good stuff. cagayan de oro has this weird charm that grows on you like mold on forgotten bread. the people are genuinely friendly - like, "i'll help you carry your groceries even though we just met" friendly. and the white water rafting? absolutely worth every peso.

random overheard at bo's coffee: "don't move to cdo unless you're okay with spontaneous rain showers and karaoke at all hours." truer words never spoken.

the job market here is... interesting. if you're in bpo, you're golden. freelance work? tougher, but doable if you're patient and have reliable internet (see my earlier rant). i've been shooting weddings and events mostly, charging around 15,000-25,000 pesos per gig depending on the scope.

safety-wise, cdo is generally okay during the day. at night, stick to well-lit areas and maybe don't flash your expensive camera gear around divisoria market. common sense stuff.

right now it's that weird in-between season where it's hot enough to make you question your life choices but rains just enough to ruin your leather shoes. classic cdo.

if you're coming from davao or iligan, you're in for a different vibe. cdo's got this laid-back energy that's more "let's grab a beer and watch the sunset" than "let's hustle until we drop."

local tip: check out the night market along capistrano street. not for the faint of heart or those with weak stomachs, but the street food is legit. just bring your own sanitizer.

for more info on living costs, i found these resources super helpful:
- Numbeo Cagayan de Oro Cost of Living
- Cagayan de Oro Subreddit
- TripAdvisor Cagayan de Oro Forum

bottom line: cagayan de oro won't make you rich, but it won't leave you eating instant noodles every night either. just come with realistic expectations and maybe some industrial-strength earplugs for the neighborhood roosters.

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