Cost of Living Comparison Between Island Garden City of Samal and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Island Garden City of Samal and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $736 per month in Island Garden City of Samal vs $927 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,116 per month in Island Garden City of Samal vs $1,501 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,497 per month in Island Garden City of Samal vs $2,074 in Manila, rent included.

Island Garden City of Samal is about 21% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Island Garden City of Samal and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Island Garden City of Samal 47% lower, Manila 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.22 ₱75.9

$5.16 ₱322

-76.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.03 ₱1,062

$25.86 ₱1,613

-34.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.91 ₱244

$3.93 ₱245

-0.51%

Cappuccino

$2.15 ₱134

$2.52 ₱157

-14.68%

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

$1.05 ₱65.5

$1.36 ₱84.6

-22.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱43.08

$0.83 ₱51.8

-16.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.11 ₱69.3

$1.13 ₱70.4

-1.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₱118

$2.74 ₱171

-31.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ₱126

$1.90 ₱118

6.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 ₱70.9

$1.43 ₱89.1

-20.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.89 ₱55.4

$0.98 ₱61.1

-9.18%

Eggs

$1.88 ₱117

$2.23 ₱139

-15.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.79 ₱424

$7.99 ₱498

-15.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.25 ₱265

$4.69 ₱292

-9.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.59 ₱535

$6.81 ₱424

26.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ₱165

$3.32 ₱207

-20.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 ₱67.7

$1.83 ₱114

-40.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 ₱137

$2.98 ₱186

-26.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 ₱75.4

$1.86 ₱116

-34.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 ₱131

$2.26 ₱141

-6.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.53 ₱220

$2.70 ₱168

30.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 ₱76.8

$2.10 ₱131

-41.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₱41.09

$0.56 ₱34.65

17.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 ₱151

$3.20 ₱200

-24.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.85 ₱489

$9.61 ₱599

-18.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 ₱78.5

$1.32 ₱82.6

-4.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₱94.8

$2.10 ₱131

-27.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.52

$0.46 ₱28.89

-45.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.11 ₱693

$12.68 ₱791

-12.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.5

$0.83 ₱52.1

-2.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.61

$0.23 ₱14.39

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 ₱119

$1.86 ₱116

2.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.9

$1.24 ₱77.1

-7.26%

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

$21.4K ₱1.3M

$21.3K ₱1.3M

0.36%

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

$18.7K ₱1.2M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

-3.53%

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

$99.7 ₱6,220

$122 ₱7,607

-18.24%

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

$18.97 ₱1,183

$14.83 ₱925

27.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.69 ₱1,976

$23.95 ₱1,494

32.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.00 ₱1,995

$42.46 ₱2,648

-24.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.72 ₱294

$5.79 ₱361

-18.48%

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 ₱296

$6.88 ₱429

-30.96%

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

$110 ₱6,837

$621 ₱38.7K

-82.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,651 ₱477.1K

$8,865 ₱552.8K

-13.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.80 ₱1,983

$57.5 ₱3,586

-44.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.32 ₱1,205

$28.04 ₱1,749

-31.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 ₱4,412

$77.6 ₱4,840

-8.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.0 ₱3,802

$57.9 ₱3,609

5.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.9K

$534 ₱33.3K

-49.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 ₱10.9K

$287 ₱17.9K

-39.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$503 ₱31.4K

$1,928 ₱120.2K

-73.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 ₱21.7K

$664 ₱41.4K

-47.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,590 ₱161.5K

$4,356 ₱271.6K

-40.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,047 ₱65.3K

$2,555 ₱159.3K

-59.01%

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 Island Garden City of Samal: September 6, 2026

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $272 in Island Garden City of Samal versus $534 in Manila. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Island Garden City of Samal versus $26.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $220 – making Island Garden City of Samal 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

Island Garden City of Samal vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila costs about 26% more than Island Garden City of Samal, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,103 per month in Island Garden City of Samal and $1,391 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $736 in Island Garden City of Samal and $927 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 14% less in Island Garden City of Samal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Island Garden City of Samal, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Manila at $927. In Island Garden City of Samal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Island Garden City of Samal costs $736 versus $927 in Manila. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Island Garden City of Samal. 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.