Cost of Living Comparison Between Cotabato City and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Cotabato City and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $754 in Cotabato City versus $927 in Manila.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,149 in Cotabato City versus $1,501 in Manila.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,544 in Cotabato City versus $2,074 in Manila.

Living in Cotabato City costs roughly 19% less than in Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cotabato City 45% lower, Manila 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.92 ₱307

$5.16 ₱322

-4.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.52 ₱1,030

$25.86 ₱1,613

-36.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 ₱256

$3.93 ₱245

4.58%

Cappuccino

$2.15 ₱134

$2.52 ₱157

-14.68%

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

$1.08 ₱67.6

$1.36 ₱84.6

-20.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱43.73

$0.83 ₱51.8

-15.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.5

$1.13 ₱70.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱118

$2.74 ₱171

-31.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 ₱127

$1.90 ₱118

7.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 ₱68.2

$1.43 ₱89.1

-23.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 ₱51.7

$0.98 ₱61.1

-15.31%

Eggs

$1.94 ₱121

$2.23 ₱139

-13.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.87 ₱429

$7.99 ₱498

-14.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.16 ₱259

$4.69 ₱292

-11.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.49 ₱530

$6.81 ₱424

24.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 ₱163

$3.32 ₱207

-21.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 ₱70.2

$1.83 ₱114

-38.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$2.98 ₱186

-22.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱75.0

$1.86 ₱116

-35.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 ₱134

$2.26 ₱141

-5.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.48 ₱217

$2.70 ₱168

28.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₱74.5

$2.10 ₱131

-43.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.37

$0.56 ₱34.65

21.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.55 ₱159

$3.20 ₱200

-20.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.93 ₱495

$9.61 ₱599

-17.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 ₱80.9

$1.32 ₱82.6

-1.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₱99.0

$2.10 ₱131

-24.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.46

$0.46 ₱28.89

-45.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.14 ₱695

$12.68 ₱791

-12.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱50.9

$0.83 ₱52.1

-1.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.24

$0.23 ₱14.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 ₱118

$1.86 ₱116

2.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱73.1

$1.24 ₱77.1

-5.65%

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

$21.6K ₱1.3M

$21.3K ₱1.3M

1.42%

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

$19.0K ₱1.2M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

-2.00%

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

$108 ₱6,720

$122 ₱7,607

-11.66%

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

$19.17 ₱1,195

$14.83 ₱925

29.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.98 ₱1,994

$23.95 ₱1,494

33.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.42 ₱2,021

$42.46 ₱2,648

-23.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.93 ₱308

$5.79 ₱361

-14.85%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 ₱303

$6.88 ₱429

-29.36%

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

$109 ₱6,783

$621 ₱38.7K

-82.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,655 ₱477.3K

$8,865 ₱552.8K

-13.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.37 ₱2,019

$57.5 ₱3,586

-43.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.46 ₱1,214

$28.04 ₱1,749

-30.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 ₱4,470

$77.6 ₱4,840

-7.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.7 ₱3,845

$57.9 ₱3,609

6.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 ₱16.8K

$534 ₱33.3K

-49.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 ₱10.9K

$287 ₱17.9K

-38.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 ₱31.5K

$1,928 ₱120.2K

-73.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$358 ₱22.3K

$664 ₱41.4K

-46.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,636 ₱164.4K

$4,356 ₱271.6K

-39.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,030 ₱64.2K

$2,555 ₱159.3K

-59.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.31

7.43

11.84%

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

Last update for Cotabato City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $269 in Cotabato City and $534 in Manila. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $17.00 in Cotabato City vs $26.00 in Manila for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $220 per month, with Cotabato City 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

Cotabato City vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cotabato City wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Manila. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cotabato City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,131 in Cotabato City and $1,391 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: $269 in Cotabato City versus $534 in Manila. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $754 per month in Cotabato City versus $927 in Manila – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Cotabato City runs roughly 14% less than in Manila. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $754 in Cotabato City versus $927 in Manila, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cotabato City but tight or insufficient in Manila. The gap between the two cities makes Cotabato City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Cotabato City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $754 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cotabato City hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Cotabato City 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 Cotabato City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.