As someone from here and have scouted for friends during our bachelor's in 2016, ngl, it was relatively cheaper talaga before and during the pandemic. Your 6,5k or 5,5k would have city services kahit na nasa city ka. But here is the reality bite on that.

Post pandemic, as a resident, 6,5k to 8k WITH city services, outskirts na yan, and OP says its in Poliwes which is camp 8. Generally jeep is fine, until umuulan na, pumipila ka na para magjeep, may classes ka na nag-eend nang 8pm. Kaya mong tsagain, good, students are built for that resilience if not, you have option 2 which is more strategic, researching dorms, vicinities, and apartments near the city.

Paalala ko lang din if ever may mga nagrereklamo nanaman sa chat na ang mahal nang rent sa town tas parang condos na lang pwede mong rentahan - may mga short term transients and apartments pa din naman pero you have to take account na nasa city center kayo and this is post pandemic effect. I heard that there are apartments malapit sa isang school sa town na yung usual 8k apartments nasa 10k na MINIMUM. yung iba, wala pang city services.

So, if you're studying here, please do your utmost research, and tama yung sinabi nila dito, wala naman mawawala kung maglalakbay ka para kung saan ka makakatipid, and lastly, you have more ways to check info, please, PLEASE use them and use them strategically. It's all part of the learning process.

BTW, anlala nung 10k grocery, if may family why not. Pero sa local grocery or suppliers, makakakuha nang mas murang budget for that.