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: $927 in Manila versus $729 in Bago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,501 in Manila versus $1,112 in Bago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,074 in Manila versus $1,496 in Bago.

Living in Manila is roughly 27% more expensive than in Bago, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 33% lower, Bago 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱324

$3.83 ₱240

34.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,622

$16.69 ₱1,047

54.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱246

$2.89 ₱181

35.99%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱158

$2.17 ₱136

16.13%

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

$1.36 ₱85.1

$0.61 ₱38.49

122.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.34 ₱21.35

144.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.8

$1.11 ₱69.8

1.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.91 ₱120

43.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱119

$1.69 ₱106

12.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.6

$1.12 ₱70.0

27.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$0.97 ₱61.1

1.03%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱140

$1.86 ₱117

19.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱501

$5.21 ₱327

53.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱294

$4.20 ₱264

11.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱427

$7.17 ₱450

-5.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱208

$2.37 ₱149

40.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱115

$1.57 ₱98.2

16.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.40 ₱151

24.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.18 ₱74.3

57.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱142

$2.13 ₱133

6.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱169

$2.03 ₱127

33.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱132

$0.84 ₱52.5

150.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.84

$0.56 ₱35.11

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱201

$2.91 ₱182

9.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱602

$8.18 ₱513

17.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱83.0

$0.98 ₱61.6

34.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱132

$1.96 ₱123

7.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱29.05

$0.25 ₱15.53

84.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱795

$11.25 ₱706

12.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.78 ₱49.15

6.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.47

$0.25 ₱15.79

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱117

$1.98 ₱124

-6.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.6

$1.12 ₱70.3

10.71%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.7K ₱1.4M

-1.62%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

0.23%

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

$122 ₱7,649

$123 ₱7,696

-0.61%

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

$14.83 ₱930

$14.93 ₱936

-0.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,502

$25.13 ₱1,576

-4.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,663

$32.23 ₱2,021

31.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱363

$4.70 ₱295

23.19%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱431

$5.11 ₱320

34.64%

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

$621 ₱38.9K

$131 ₱8,242

372.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱555.9K

$8,056 ₱505.1K

10.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,605

$32.69 ₱2,050

75.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,758

$19.43 ₱1,218

44.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,866

$71.6 ₱4,492

8.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,629

$56.0 ₱3,513

3.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.5K

$269 ₱16.9K

98.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱18.0K

$174 ₱10.9K

64.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$503 ₱31.5K

283.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.6K

$350 ₱22.0K

89.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱273.1K

$2,640 ₱165.5K

64.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱160.2K

$1,032 ₱64.7K

147.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.75

10.07%

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

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Last update for Bago: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $534 in Manila and $269 in Bago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $26.00 in Manila vs $17.00 in Bago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $180 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 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,391 in Manila and $1,093 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: $534 in Manila versus $269 in Bago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $621 in Manila versus $131 in Bago. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Manila. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $729 in Bago versus $927 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 27% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.