Cost of Living Comparison Between Bago and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Bago and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $764 in Bago versus $963 in Manila.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,200 in Bago versus $1,522 in Manila.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,636 in Bago versus $2,081 in Manila.

Living in Bago costs roughly 21% less than in Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bago 43% lower, Manila 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.50 ₱216

$5.39 ₱333

-35.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.75 ₱1,095

$26.79 ₱1,652

-33.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.39 ₱209

$4.54 ₱280

-25.33%

Cappuccino

$2.44 ₱150

$2.62 ₱162

-6.87%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₱50.6

$0.98 ₱60.7

-16.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.56

$0.54 ₱33.20

-25.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 ₱80.4

$1.48 ₱91.5

-12.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.73 ₱168

-19.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱118

$1.96 ₱121

-2.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱74.9

$1.40 ₱86.1

-13.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 ₱58.9

$1.03 ₱63.7

-7.77%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱123

$2.07 ₱128

-3.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.79 ₱481

$9.11 ₱562

-14.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 ₱258

$5.20 ₱321

-19.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 ₱465

$8.70 ₱537

-13.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.84 ₱175

$3.40 ₱210

-16.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 ₱95.3

$1.81 ₱112

-14.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$3.66 ₱226

-25.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₱95.0

$2.52 ₱155

-38.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.32 ₱143

$2.81 ₱173

-17.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱162

$3.09 ₱191

-15.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₱68.9

$1.99 ₱123

-43.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.57

$0.69 ₱42.31

4.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 ₱178

$3.44 ₱212

-16.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.84 ₱545

$9.98 ₱616

-11.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₱72.1

$1.49 ₱92.2

-21.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₱127

$2.19 ₱135

-5.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.93

$0.48 ₱29.78

-45.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.61

$0.93 ₱57.2

-17.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.86

$0.27 ₱16.72

-11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 ₱132

$2.16 ₱133

-0.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.4

$1.12 ₱68.8

-0.89%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$26.6K ₱1.6M

-1.34%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.4K ₱1.3M

$23.0K ₱1.4M

-11.20%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$111 ₱6,873

$135 ₱8,306

-17.26%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$33.24 ₱2,050

$22.00 ₱1,357

51.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.26 ₱1,682

$27.98 ₱1,726

-2.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.99 ₱2,096

$42.05 ₱2,594

-19.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.33 ₱267

$7.00 ₱431

-38.14%

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 ₱375

$6.73 ₱415

-9.51%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$154 ₱9,518

$365 ₱22.5K

-57.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,293 ₱264.8K

$11.6K ₱713.2K

-62.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.12 ₱2,845

$46.97 ₱2,897

-1.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.37 ₱1,627

$35.01 ₱2,159

-24.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ₱4,576

$81.7 ₱5,041

-9.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.5 ₱3,303

$45.98 ₱2,836

16.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$489 ₱30.1K

-45.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 ₱11.1K

$270 ₱16.6K

-33.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 ₱35.8K

$1,687 ₱104.1K

-65.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 ₱24.7K

$630 ₱38.8K

-36.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,434 ₱150.1K

$4,325 ₱266.8K

-43.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

7.52

-11.30%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bago: April 26, 2026

Last update for Manila: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Bago and $489 in Manila. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Bago vs $27.00 in Manila for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $243 per month, with Bago cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bago vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bago is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,145 in Bago and $1,444 in Manila to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $265 in Bago versus $489 in Manila. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $154 in Bago versus $365 in Manila. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bago – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $27.00 in Manila. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $764 in Bago versus $963 in Manila, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bago but tight or insufficient in Manila. The gap between the two cities makes Bago the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Bago is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Manila, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Bago and Manila are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.