Cost of Living Comparison Between Mambajao and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Mambajao and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $632 per month in Mambajao vs $959 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,001 per month in Mambajao vs $1,528 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,370 per month in Mambajao vs $2,097 in Manila, rent included.

Mambajao is about 34% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.55 ₱95.6

$5.38 ₱332

-71.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.49 ₱1,634

$26.83 ₱1,655

-1.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.41 ₱272

$4.34 ₱267

1.61%

Cappuccino

$3.04 ₱187

$2.75 ₱169

10.55%

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

$1.41 ₱86.9

$0.96 ₱58.9

46.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.77

$0.50 ₱30.56

54.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.12 ₱69.2

$1.49 ₱92.0

-24.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.61 ₱161

4.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ₱82.0

$1.89 ₱116

-29.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 ₱55.9

$1.38 ₱85.3

-34.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 ₱54.1

$1.05 ₱64.7

-16.19%

Eggs

$1.41 ₱87.0

$2.18 ₱135

-35.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.94 ₱490

$9.61 ₱593

-17.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.21 ₱260

$5.19 ₱320

-18.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.56 ₱405

$8.32 ₱513

-21.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ₱184

$3.50 ₱216

-14.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 ₱83.0

$1.80 ₱111

-25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱167

$3.58 ₱221

-24.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ₱98.3

$2.49 ₱154

-36.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.39 ₱147

$2.76 ₱170

-13.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 ₱161

$3.03 ₱187

-14.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₱68.9

$2.01 ₱124

-44.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.64

$0.64 ₱39.57

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.91 ₱180

$3.32 ₱205

-12.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.16 ₱503

$9.74 ₱601

-16.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ₱66.2

$1.49 ₱92.1

-28.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 ₱80.3

$2.15 ₱133

-39.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 ₱12.31

$0.52 ₱31.91

-61.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱50.4

$0.86 ₱53.2

-4.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.52

$0.25 ₱15.37

-12.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 ₱134

$2.16 ₱133

0.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ₱86.8

$1.16 ₱71.8

21.55%

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

$27.1K ₱1.7M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

3.40%

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

$20.2K ₱1.2M

$22.7K ₱1.4M

-11.18%

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

$84.0 ₱5,181

$138 ₱8,529

-39.25%

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

$32.13 ₱1,981

$22.24 ₱1,371

44.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.09 ₱1,362

$27.71 ₱1,709

-20.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.64 ₱2,074

$41.41 ₱2,554

-18.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.49 ₱277

$6.89 ₱425

-34.83%

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 ₱362

$6.58 ₱406

-10.79%

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

$150 ₱9,227

$357 ₱22.0K

-58.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,285 ₱264.2K

$11.5K ₱707.3K

-62.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.28 ₱2,792

$46.42 ₱2,862

-2.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.22 ₱1,617

$35.12 ₱2,166

-25.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.4 ₱4,648

$82.4 ₱5,081

-8.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.3 ₱3,284

$45.78 ₱2,823

16.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$132 ₱8,138

$500 ₱30.8K

-73.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.0 ₱5,363

$265 ₱16.3K

-67.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$293 ₱18.1K

$1,684 ₱103.8K

-82.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 ₱11.8K

$636 ₱39.2K

-69.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,460 ₱151.7K

$4,370 ₱269.4K

-43.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$885 ₱54.6K

$2,544 ₱156.9K

-65.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$154 ₱9,498

$481 ₱29.7K

-67.97%

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 Mambajao: May 30, 2026

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $132 in Mambajao versus $500 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 212% 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 $26.00 in Mambajao versus $27.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $242 – making Mambajao 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

Mambajao vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila costs about 52% more than Mambajao, 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 $948 per month in Mambajao and $1,438 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mambajao, 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 $632 in Mambajao and $959 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $150 per month in Mambajao and $357 in Manila. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mambajao, where all-in costs run around $632, than in Manila at $959. In Mambajao it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mambajao costs $632 versus $959 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 Mambajao. 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.