Cost of Living Comparison Between Lipa and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Lipa and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $628 per month in Lipa vs $963 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,030 per month in Lipa vs $1,522 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,432 per month in Lipa vs $2,081 in Manila, rent included.

Lipa is about 35% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lipa and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Lipa 53% lower, Manila 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 ₱223

$5.39 ₱333

-32.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.64 ₱1,088

$26.79 ₱1,652

-34.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.12 ₱192

$4.54 ₱280

-31.28%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$2.62 ₱162

-10.31%

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

$0.46 ₱28.18

$0.98 ₱60.7

-53.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.54

$0.54 ₱33.20

-38.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.67 ₱41.63

$1.48 ₱91.5

-54.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 ₱83.0

$1.96 ₱121

-31.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 ₱69.0

$1.40 ₱86.1

-20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱69.1

$1.03 ₱63.7

8.74%

Eggs

$1.87 ₱115

$2.07 ₱128

-9.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.08 ₱437

$9.11 ₱562

-22.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.23 ₱261

$5.20 ₱321

-18.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.14 ₱441

$8.70 ₱537

-17.93%

Apples (1kg)

$1.72 ₱106

$3.40 ₱210

-49.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 ₱97.2

$1.81 ₱112

-12.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$3.66 ₱226

-50.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 ₱74.3

$2.52 ₱155

-51.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$2.81 ₱173

-67.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 ₱64.1

$3.09 ₱191

-66.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 ₱31.95

$1.99 ₱123

-73.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₱62.6

$0.69 ₱42.31

46.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ₱202

$3.44 ₱212

-4.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.01 ₱556

$9.98 ₱616

-9.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ₱55.8

$1.49 ₱92.2

-39.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱126

$2.19 ₱135

-6.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.53

$0.48 ₱29.78

-54.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.39

$0.93 ₱57.2

-17.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.50

$0.27 ₱16.72

-18.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.16 ₱133

-2.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.7

$1.12 ₱68.8

2.68%

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

$25.2K ₱1.6M

$26.6K ₱1.6M

-5.02%

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

$20.2K ₱1.2M

$23.0K ₱1.4M

-11.87%

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

$81.7 ₱5,040

$135 ₱8,306

-39.32%

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

$33.09 ₱2,041

$22.00 ₱1,357

50.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.99 ₱1,850

$27.98 ₱1,726

7.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.16 ₱1,614

$42.05 ₱2,594

-37.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

Cinema Ticket

$5.83 ₱360

$6.73 ₱415

-13.37%

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

$80.4 ₱4,959

$365 ₱22.5K

-77.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,744 ₱169.2K

$11.6K ₱713.2K

-76.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.82 ₱1,963

$46.97 ₱2,897

-32.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.99 ₱1,850

$35.01 ₱2,159

-14.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.8 ₱6,095

$81.7 ₱5,041

20.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.1 ₱5,864

$45.98 ₱2,836

106.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$88.3 ₱5,449

$489 ₱30.1K

-81.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.2 ₱4,080

$270 ₱16.6K

-75.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$280 ₱17.3K

$1,687 ₱104.1K

-83.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 ₱15.7K

$630 ₱38.8K

-59.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$235 ₱14.5K

$452 ₱27.9K

-48.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.13

7.52

8.11%

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

Last update for Lipa: April 27, 2026

Last update for Manila: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $88.3 in Lipa versus $489 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 93% 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 $18.00 in Lipa versus $27.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $243 – making Lipa 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

Lipa vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $628 in Lipa, $963 in Manila – roughly 53% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $941 per month in Lipa and $1,444 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lipa, 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 $18.00 in Lipa and $27.00 in Manila. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lipa, where all-in costs run around $628, than in Manila at $963. In Lipa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $628 in Lipa to $963 in Manila. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Lipa. 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.