Cost of Living Comparison Between Magallanes, Cavite and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Magallanes, Cavite and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $776 per month in Magallanes, Cavite vs $963 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,201 per month in Magallanes, Cavite vs $1,522 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,627 per month in Magallanes, Cavite vs $2,081 in Manila, rent included.

Magallanes, Cavite is about 19% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Magallanes, Cavite and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Magallanes, Cavite 42% lower, Manila 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱215

$5.39 ₱330

-34.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.50 ₱1,071

$26.79 ₱1,639

-34.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.36 ₱206

$4.54 ₱278

-25.99%

Cappuccino

$2.40 ₱147

$2.62 ₱160

-8.40%

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

$0.82 ₱50.3

$0.98 ₱60.2

-16.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ₱22.19

$0.54 ₱32.93

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.31 ₱80.3

$1.48 ₱90.8

-11.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₱133

$2.73 ₱167

-20.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 ₱113

$1.96 ₱120

-5.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ₱77.8

$1.40 ₱85.4

-9.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 ₱58.5

$1.03 ₱63.2

-6.80%

Eggs

$1.99 ₱122

$2.07 ₱127

-3.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.94 ₱486

$9.11 ₱557

-12.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.34 ₱265

$5.20 ₱318

-16.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.82 ₱478

$8.70 ₱533

-10.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 ₱177

$3.40 ₱208

-14.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₱97.3

$1.81 ₱111

-12.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 ₱159

$3.66 ₱224

-28.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ₱93.9

$2.52 ₱154

-39.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.20 ₱135

$2.81 ₱172

-21.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 ₱154

$3.09 ₱189

-18.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 ₱64.9

$1.99 ₱122

-46.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₱43.34

$0.69 ₱41.97

2.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.77 ₱169

$3.44 ₱210

-19.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.98 ₱427

$9.98 ₱611

-30.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.49 ₱91.4

-22.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ₱121

$2.19 ₱134

-9.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.81

$0.48 ₱29.54

-45.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱724

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱47.46

$0.93 ₱56.7

-16.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.77

$0.27 ₱16.58

-11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 ₱130

$2.16 ₱132

-1.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱69.9

$1.12 ₱68.2

1.79%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$26.6K ₱1.6M

0.71%

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

$20.1K ₱1.2M

$23.0K ₱1.4M

-12.41%

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

$111 ₱6,801

$135 ₱8,238

-17.45%

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

$32.36 ₱1,980

$22.00 ₱1,346

47.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.30 ₱1,670

$27.98 ₱1,712

-2.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.69 ₱2,061

$42.05 ₱2,573

-19.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.40 ₱269

$7.00 ₱428

-37.14%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ₱365

$6.73 ₱411

-11.44%

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

$153 ₱9,389

$365 ₱22.3K

-57.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,385 ₱268.2K

$11.6K ₱707.4K

-62.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.70 ₱2,857

$46.97 ₱2,874

-0.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ₱1,648

$35.01 ₱2,142

-23.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.7 ₱4,634

$81.7 ₱5,000

-7.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.7 ₱3,223

$45.98 ₱2,813

14.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.5K

$489 ₱29.9K

-44.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₱10.8K

$270 ₱16.5K

-34.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 ₱36.2K

$1,687 ₱103.2K

-64.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱24.3K

$630 ₱38.5K

-37.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,411 ₱147.5K

$4,325 ₱264.6K

-44.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱161.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.7K

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 Magallanes, Cavite: April 26, 2026

Last update for Manila: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $270 in Magallanes, Cavite 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Magallanes, Cavite versus $27.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $202 vs $243 – making Magallanes, Cavite 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

Magallanes, Cavite vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila costs about 24% more than Magallanes, Cavite, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,164 per month in Magallanes, Cavite 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 Magallanes, Cavite, 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 $17.00 in Magallanes, Cavite 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 20% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Magallanes, Cavite, where all-in costs run around $776, than in Manila at $963. In Magallanes, Cavite it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Magallanes, Cavite costs $776 versus $963 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 Magallanes, Cavite. 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.