Cost of Living Comparison Between Dagupan and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Dagupan and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $784 per month in Dagupan vs $958 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,173 per month in Dagupan vs $1,515 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,563 per month in Dagupan vs $2,073 in Manila, rent included.

Dagupan is about 18% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dagupan and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Dagupan 42% lower, Manila 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.10 ₱188

$5.45 ₱331

-43.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.05 ₱792

$26.28 ₱1,596

-50.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.82 ₱292

$4.32 ₱263

11.57%

Cappuccino

$2.85 ₱173

$2.71 ₱164

5.17%

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

$0.55 ₱33.53

$0.91 ₱55.0

-39.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₱17.08

$0.50 ₱30.58

-44.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.32 ₱80.1

$1.50 ₱91.0

-12.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₱182

$2.63 ₱160

13.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 ₱128

$1.89 ₱115

11.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ₱91.3

$1.38 ₱83.8

8.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 ₱49.73

$1.08 ₱65.9

-24.07%

Eggs

$2.09 ₱127

$2.14 ₱130

-2.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.43 ₱390

$9.52 ₱578

-32.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 ₱279

$5.33 ₱324

-13.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.82 ₱475

$8.37 ₱508

-6.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.35 ₱264

$3.39 ₱206

28.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱120

$1.82 ₱111

8.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 ₱160

$3.66 ₱222

-28.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.32 ₱80.0

$2.49 ₱151

-46.99%

Potato (1kg)

$3.28 ₱199

$2.78 ₱169

17.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 ₱176

$3.05 ₱185

-4.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱69.3

$2.04 ₱124

-44.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₱36.99

$0.65 ₱39.71

-6.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 ₱160

$3.42 ₱208

-22.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.82 ₱354

$9.50 ₱577

-38.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱61.8

$1.44 ₱87.5

-29.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₱126

$2.14 ₱130

-3.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₱14.60

$0.51 ₱31.13

-52.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 ₱719

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 ₱41.81

$0.91 ₱55.5

-24.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.30

$0.25 ₱15.18

-12.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱220

$2.08 ₱126

74.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.0

$1.16 ₱70.3

-5.17%

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

$33.2K ₱2.0M

$26.3K ₱1.6M

26.51%

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

$22.0K ₱1.3M

$22.4K ₱1.4M

-1.76%

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

$114 ₱6,934

$136 ₱8,261

-16.06%

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

$26.78 ₱1,626

$22.24 ₱1,350

20.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.18 ₱1,772

$27.14 ₱1,648

7.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.67 ₱2,227

$42.15 ₱2,559

-13.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.34 ₱263

$6.88 ₱418

-36.92%

Cinema Ticket

$5.55 ₱337

$6.58 ₱400

-15.65%

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

$111 ₱6,742

$362 ₱22.0K

-69.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,347 ₱263.9K

$11.2K ₱681.7K

-61.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 ₱3,666

$46.99 ₱2,853

28.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.65 ₱525

$35.37 ₱2,148

-75.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.0 ₱5,101

$82.4 ₱5,001

2.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.3 ₱3,051

$46.51 ₱2,824

8.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$219 ₱13.3K

$491 ₱29.8K

-55.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 ₱10.5K

$268 ₱16.3K

-35.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$522 ₱31.7K

$1,726 ₱104.8K

-69.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 ₱18.2K

$621 ₱37.7K

-51.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,678 ₱162.6K

$4,269 ₱259.2K

-37.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$997 ₱60.6K

$2,574 ₱156.3K

-61.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$247 ₱15.0K

$487 ₱29.5K

-49.26%

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 Dagupan: June 6, 2026

Last update for Manila: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $219 in Dagupan versus $491 in Manila. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 97% higher in Manila, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Dagupan versus $26.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $242 – making Dagupan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Dagupan vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manila is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,175 per month in Dagupan and $1,437 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dagupan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Dagupan and $26.00 in Manila. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Manila, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dagupan, where all-in costs run around $784, than in Manila at $958. In Dagupan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dagupan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dagupan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.