Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Bago Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Bago

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $963 in Manila versus $764 in Bago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,522 in Manila versus $1,200 in Bago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,081 in Manila versus $1,636 in Bago.

Living in Manila is roughly 26% more expensive than Bago, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 28% lower, Bago 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$3.50 ₱216

54.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$17.75 ₱1,095

50.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.39 ₱209

33.92%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$2.44 ₱150

7.38%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.82 ₱50.6

19.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.40 ₱24.56

35.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.30 ₱80.4

13.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.19 ₱135

24.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$1.91 ₱118

2.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.21 ₱74.9

15.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$0.95 ₱58.9

8.42%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.00 ₱123

3.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$7.79 ₱481

16.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$4.18 ₱258

24.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$7.55 ₱465

15.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$2.84 ₱175

19.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.54 ₱95.3

17.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$2.72 ₱168

34.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.54 ₱95.0

63.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$2.32 ₱143

21.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$2.62 ₱162

17.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$1.12 ₱68.9

77.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.72 ₱44.57

-4.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$2.88 ₱178

19.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$8.84 ₱545

12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.17 ₱72.1

27.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.07 ₱127

5.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.26 ₱15.93

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.77 ₱47.61

20.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.24 ₱14.86

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.14 ₱132

0.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.11 ₱68.4

0.90%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

1.36%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

12.61%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$111 ₱6,873

20.86%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$33.24 ₱2,050

-33.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$27.26 ₱1,682

2.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$33.99 ₱2,096

23.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$4.33 ₱267

61.66%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$6.09 ₱375

10.51%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$154 ₱9,518

136.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$4,293 ₱264.8K

169.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$46.12 ₱2,845

1.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$26.37 ₱1,627

32.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$74.2 ₱4,576

10.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$53.5 ₱3,303

-14.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$265 ₱16.3K

84.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$180 ₱11.1K

50.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$581 ₱35.8K

190.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$401 ₱24.7K

56.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

$2,434 ₱150.1K

77.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bago: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $489 in Manila and $265 in Bago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Manila vs $18.00 in Bago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $205 per month, with Bago 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 Bago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bago is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,444 in Manila and $1,145 in Bago to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $489 in Manila versus $265 in Bago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $365 in Manila versus $154 in Bago. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bago – 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 $764 in Bago versus $963 in Manila, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bago but tight or insufficient in Manila. The gap between the two cities makes Bago the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Bago is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Manila, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Manila and Bago 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 Bago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.