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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $690 in Bacong, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,107 in Bacong, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $1,524 in Bacong, rent included.

Manila costs about 39% more than Bacong, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Bacong are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Bacong 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$2.59 ₱159

103.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$21.25 ₱1,308

27.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$3.65 ₱225

24.66%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$2.07 ₱127

31.88%

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

$0.96 ₱59.3

$0.53 ₱32.86

81.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.33 ₱20.01

51.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$0.95 ₱58.4

62.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$1.82 ₱112

45.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.79 ₱110

6.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$1.26 ₱77.7

5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$0.95 ₱58.4

12.63%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$2.26 ₱139

-7.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$5.86 ₱360

58.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$4.32 ₱266

20.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱527

$7.03 ₱433

21.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$3.56 ₱219

-0.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.19 ₱73.5

51.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$3.36 ₱207

6.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.61 ₱99.1

55.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$2.58 ₱159

7.75%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$3.12 ₱192

1.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.70 ₱105

16.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.93 ₱57.0

-26.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$3.10 ₱191

6.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$6.19 ₱381

53.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.29 ₱79.6

13.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.41 ₱86.6

49.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.26 ₱15.83

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.68 ₱41.93

29.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.25 ₱15.40

8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.65 ₱163

-21.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.04 ₱64.2

12.50%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$23.6K ₱1.5M

10.65%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$19.9K ₱1.2M

14.82%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$56.5 ₱3,475

139.89%

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

$21.56 ₱1,328

$30.58 ₱1,883

-29.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$30.30 ₱1,865

-8.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$33.82 ₱2,082

22.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.52 ₱278

50.88%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$5.29 ₱326

30.81%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$34.78 ₱2,141

943.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$4,269 ₱262.8K

171.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$46.29 ₱2,850

1.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$23.15 ₱1,425

48.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$63.3 ₱3,894

29.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$26.44 ₱1,628

79.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$167 ₱10.3K

191.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$176 ₱10.9K

54.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$584 ₱36.0K

196.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$393 ₱24.2K

63.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$2,648 ₱163.1K

63.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$916 ₱56.4K

184.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bacong: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Manila versus $167 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 $21.00 in Bacong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $204 – 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 39%, 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 $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,035 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 $957 in Manila and $690 in Bacong. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $34.78 in Bacong. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Manila and $690 in Bacong, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.