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: $959 in Manila versus $772 in Albay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,528 in Manila versus $1,205 in Albay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,097 in Manila versus $1,638 in Albay.

Living in Manila is roughly 24% more expensive than Albay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 28% lower, Albay 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$3.49 ₱215

54.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$18.06 ₱1,113

48.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.33 ₱205

30.33%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.46 ₱152

11.79%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.77 ₱47.44

24.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.39 ₱24.14

28.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.35 ₱83.3

10.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.09 ₱129

24.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.92 ₱119

-1.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.21 ₱74.5

14.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.96 ₱59.1

9.38%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.06 ₱127

5.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$7.99 ₱493

20.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.15 ₱256

25.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.50 ₱462

10.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.85 ₱176

22.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.58 ₱97.7

13.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.69 ₱166

33.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.57 ₱96.6

58.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.20 ₱135

25.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.53 ₱156

19.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.07 ₱65.7

87.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.72 ₱44.23

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.78 ₱172

19.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$8.52 ₱526

14.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.20 ₱73.9

24.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.96 ₱121

9.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.28 ₱17.28

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.81 ₱50.1

6.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.24 ₱14.85

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.18 ₱134

-0.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.14 ₱70.0

1.75%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$26.5K ₱1.6M

-1.15%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

11.33%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$110 ₱6,806

25.31%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$32.34 ₱1,994

-31.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$27.56 ₱1,699

0.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$33.25 ₱2,050

24.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.51 ₱278

52.77%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$5.87 ₱362

12.10%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$152 ₱9,356

135.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,241 ₱261.5K

170.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$45.77 ₱2,822

1.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$26.78 ₱1,651

31.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$75.8 ₱4,674

8.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$53.3 ₱3,287

-14.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$268 ₱16.5K

86.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$177 ₱10.9K

49.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$594 ₱36.6K

183.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$402 ₱24.8K

58.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,794 ₱172.3K

56.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$889 ₱54.8K

186.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$163 ₱10.0K

195.48%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Albay: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Manila and $268 in Albay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 195% 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 $242 vs $204 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 24% in total monthly costs ($959 vs $772 including rent). Albay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Manila pays 195% more on average, 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: $500 in Manila versus $268 in Albay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $357 in Manila versus $152 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.

At $772 in Albay versus $959 in Manila, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Albay but tight or insufficient in Manila. The gap between the two cities makes Albay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 24% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.