Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Bacong Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Bacong

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $684 in Bacong, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,109 in Bacong, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,534 in Bacong, rent included.

Manila costs about 40% more than Bacong, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Bacong are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Bacong 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$2.63 ₱162

104.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$21.69 ₱1,338

23.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.45 ₱213

25.80%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$1.97 ₱122

39.59%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.57 ₱35.29

68.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.32 ₱20.01

56.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.01 ₱62.4

47.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.74 ₱108

50.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.85 ₱114

2.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.25 ₱77.1

10.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.88 ₱54.2

19.32%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.28 ₱141

-4.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$5.88 ₱362

63.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.27 ₱263

21.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$6.95 ₱428

19.71%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$3.64 ₱225

-3.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.19 ₱73.6

51.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$3.38 ₱208

5.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.54 ₱94.8

61.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.62 ₱162

5.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$3.02 ₱186

0.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.68 ₱103

19.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.88 ₱54.1

-27.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$3.10 ₱191

7.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$5.79 ₱357

68.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.34 ₱82.9

11.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.46 ₱90.1

47.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.28 ₱17.36

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.69 ₱42.37

24.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.23 ₱14.12

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.58 ₱159

-16.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.08 ₱66.6

7.41%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$23.5K ₱1.5M

11.35%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

15.10%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$56.8 ₱3,501

143.61%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$31.06 ₱1,915

-28.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$30.49 ₱1,880

-9.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$34.52 ₱2,128

19.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.49 ₱277

53.45%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$5.21 ₱321

26.30%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$35.24 ₱2,173

912.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,257 ₱262.5K

169.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$46.00 ₱2,837

0.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$22.70 ₱1,400

54.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$62.5 ₱3,856

31.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$26.71 ₱1,647

71.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$164 ₱10.1K

204.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$175 ₱10.8K

50.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$584 ₱36.0K

188.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$395 ₱24.4K

60.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,530 ₱156.0K

72.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$1,088 ₱67.1K

133.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

-6.00%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for Bacong: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $164 in Bacong. 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 $27.00 in Manila versus $22.00 in Bacong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $202 – making Bacong 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

Manila vs Bacong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manila is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $1,026 in Bacong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bacong, 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 $959 in Manila and $684 in Bacong. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $35.24 in Bacong. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bacong, where all-in costs run around $684, than in Manila at $959. In Bacong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bacong – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Bacong. 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.