Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dipolog and Manila

For one person, living is cheaper in Dipolog: $602 a month against $945 in Manila, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

29

Cost of Living Index in Dipolog
Learn more

Dipolog Living Index
46

Cost of Living Index in Manila
Learn more

Manila Living Index

Jump to prices

Dipolog

🇵🇭 Philippines

$602

/mo nomad

Manila

🇵🇭 Philippines

$945

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dipolog and in Manila

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Dipolog and in Manila actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $602 per month in Dipolog vs $945 in Manila, rent included.

Dipolog $602
Manila $945

A couple spends around $839 per month in Dipolog vs $1,572 in Manila, rent included.

Dipolog $839
Manila $1,572

A family of three spends $1,076 per month in Dipolog vs $2,199 in Manila, rent included.

Dipolog $1,076
Manila $2,199

Dipolog is about 36% cheaper than Manila, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Dipolog and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Dipolog 56% lower, Manila 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.36 ₱87.1

$5.34 ₱342

-74.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.30 ₱1,235

$26.46 ₱1,693

-27.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.72 ₱174

$3.93 ₱252

-30.79%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ₱129

$2.53 ₱162

-20.16%

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

$0.64 ₱40.84

$1.35 ₱86.4

-52.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₱18.78

$0.82 ₱52.3

-64.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 ₱66.7

$1.14 ₱72.9

-8.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 ₱110

$2.38 ₱152

-27.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 ₱103

$1.91 ₱122

-16.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 ₱49.00

$1.44 ₱92.2

-46.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 ₱52.5

$0.94 ₱60.4

-12.77%

Eggs

$1.87 ₱120

$2.30 ₱147

-18.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.77 ₱369

$7.41 ₱474

-22.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.12 ₱264

$4.61 ₱295

-10.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.71 ₱365

$6.65 ₱425

-14.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.60 ₱102

$3.29 ₱211

-51.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ₱68.8

$1.80 ₱115

-40.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 ₱186

$3.00 ₱192

-3.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 ₱91.6

$1.76 ₱112

-18.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 ₱118

$2.22 ₱142

-17.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 ₱171

$2.66 ₱170

0.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 ₱93.8

$2.14 ₱137

-31.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₱39.31

$0.53 ₱34.17

15.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 ₱194

$3.06 ₱196

-0.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.93 ₱251

$9.57 ₱612

-58.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₱72.1

$1.30 ₱83.4

-13.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 ₱80.5

$1.99 ₱127

-36.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱16.75

$0.40 ₱25.87

-35.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.99 ₱703

$12.75 ₱816

-13.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱51.6

$0.72 ₱46.04

12.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 ₱20.75

$0.23 ₱14.74

39.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 ₱149

$1.84 ₱118

26.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 ₱57.1

$1.27 ₱81.1

-29.92%

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

$21.2K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

2.32%

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

$19.0K ₱1.2M

$18.7K ₱1.2M

1.74%

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

$64.3 ₱4,112

$120 ₱7,652

-46.27%

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

$7.73 ₱495

$15.69 ₱1,004

-50.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.98 ₱1,534

$23.60 ₱1,510

1.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.70 ₱2,093

$42.57 ₱2,724

-23.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.65 ₱298

$5.65 ₱361

-17.70%

Cinema Ticket

$4.70 ₱301

$6.50 ₱416

-27.69%

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

$32.00 ₱2,048

$599 ₱38.3K

-94.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,107 ₱518.7K

$8,818 ₱564.2K

-8.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.03 ₱2,114

$56.7 ₱3,626

-41.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.08 ₱1,221

$27.40 ₱1,753

-30.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.9 ₱3,579

$76.4 ₱4,885

-26.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$23.76 ₱1,521

$55.5 ₱3,552

-57.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$156 ₱9,970

$526 ₱33.7K

-70.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 ₱11.0K

$297 ₱19.0K

-42.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 ₱32.8K

$1,887 ₱120.7K

-72.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 ₱8,602

$816 ₱52.2K

-83.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,401 ₱153.6K

$3,968 ₱253.9K

-39.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,119 ₱71.6K

$2,366 ₱151.4K

-52.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$234 ₱15.0K

$466 ₱29.8K

-49.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.33

7.43

-1.35%

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

Last update for Dipolog: October 25, 2026

Last update for Manila: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Dipolog

$172 28.6%

Manila

$297 31.4% 72.6% $125

Groceries & Markets

Dipolog

$163 27%

Manila

$216 22.9% 32.8% $53

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Dipolog

$96 15.9%

Manila

$159 16.8% 65.6% $63

Clothing & Footwear

Dipolog

$59 9.9%

Manila

$97 10.3% 63.8% $38

Eating Out

Dipolog

$56 9.2%

Manila

$104 11% 86.9% $48

Sport & Entertainment

Dipolog

$42 7%

Manila

$56 5.9% 32% $13

Getting Around

Dipolog

$14 2.4%

Manila

$16 1.7% 12.2% $1.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $156 in Dipolog versus $526 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 99% higher in Manila. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Dipolog versus $26 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $163 vs $216 – making Dipolog the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Dipolog

🇵🇭 Manila

🕒 Local time

15:55 3:55 PM

Same time as Dipolog

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

130,759

1,780,148 Capital

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.56 USD

100 PHP = 1.4 EUR

100 PHP = 1.56 USD

100 PHP = 1.4 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Dipolog Manila 720 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Dipolog
Manila

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Dipolog vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila costs about 57% more than Dipolog, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $904 per month in Dipolog and $1,418 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dipolog, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $156 there versus $526 in Manila.

Kindergarten costs $32 per month in Dipolog and $599 in Manila. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% 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 $800 monthly budget goes further in Dipolog, where all-in costs run around $602, than in Manila at $945. In Dipolog it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Dipolog. 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.