Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Albay Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Albay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $957 in Manila versus $792 in Albay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,538 in Manila versus $1,227 in Albay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,118 in Manila versus $1,662 in Albay.

Living in Manila is roughly 21% more expensive than in Albay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 28% lower, Albay 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$3.61 ₱222

46.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$17.94 ₱1,104

51.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$3.34 ₱206

36.23%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$2.44 ₱150

11.89%

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

$0.96 ₱59.3

$0.82 ₱50.5

17.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.36 ₱22.26

38.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.30 ₱79.7

18.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$2.17 ₱133

22.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.86 ₱114

2.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$1.27 ₱78.5

4.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$0.94 ₱58.1

13.83%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$1.99 ₱123

4.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$7.86 ₱484

18.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$4.18 ₱257

24.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱527

$7.70 ₱474

11.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$2.93 ₱181

20.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.52 ₱93.5

18.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.62 ₱161

36.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.53 ₱94.5

63.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$2.19 ₱135

26.94%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$2.58 ₱159

22.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.07 ₱65.7

85.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.71 ₱44.01

-4.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.87 ₱177

15.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$9.26 ₱570

2.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.17 ₱71.8

24.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.98 ₱122

6.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.28 ₱17.31

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.82 ₱50.8

7.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.22 ₱13.51

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.14 ₱132

-2.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.11 ₱68.1

5.41%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$27.0K ₱1.7M

-3.35%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

12.23%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$114 ₱6,997

19.16%

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

$21.56 ₱1,328

$32.47 ₱1,999

-33.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$27.26 ₱1,678

1.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$33.29 ₱2,050

24.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.50 ₱277

51.56%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$5.96 ₱367

16.11%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$153 ₱9,437

136.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$4,338 ₱267.1K

167.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$45.01 ₱2,771

4.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$26.31 ₱1,620

30.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$75.3 ₱4,637

8.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$53.0 ₱3,262

-10.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$263 ₱16.2K

84.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$178 ₱11.0K

52.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$579 ₱35.6K

198.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$395 ₱24.3K

62.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$2,503 ₱154.1K

73.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$956 ₱58.8K

172.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

$164 ₱10.1K

184.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.67

12.74%

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

Last update for Manila: July 11, 2026

Last update for Albay: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $486 in Manila and $263 in Albay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 184% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $27.00 in Manila vs $18.00 in Albay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $206 per month, with Albay cheaper across the board.

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

Manila vs Albay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila and Albay differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($957 vs $792 including rent). Albay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 184% higher in Manila, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $486 in Manila versus $263 in Albay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $363 in Manila versus $153 in Albay. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Albay – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $27.00 in Manila. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Albay gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Manila and Albay are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Albay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.