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: $968 in Manila versus $771 in Bago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,526 in Manila versus $1,219 in Bago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,085 in Manila versus $1,668 in Bago.

Living in Manila is roughly 25% more expensive than in Bago, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 27% lower, Bago 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱332

$3.47 ₱213

55.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,609

$17.77 ₱1,091

47.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱265

$3.33 ₱204

29.73%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱163

$2.42 ₱149

9.50%

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

$0.96 ₱58.8

$0.84 ₱51.5

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.34

$0.39 ₱24.20

38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.7

$1.31 ₱80.5

16.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.12 ₱130

28.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.85 ₱113

2.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.7

$1.28 ₱78.3

3.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.8

$1.00 ₱61.2

9.00%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$2.09 ₱129

0.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱558

$8.25 ₱507

10.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱314

$4.29 ₱263

19.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱511

$7.62 ₱468

9.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱214

$2.87 ₱176

21.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱113

$1.54 ₱94.8

18.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$2.68 ₱165

36.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.60 ₱98.2

55.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$2.29 ₱141

17.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱190

$2.61 ₱160

18.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$1.12 ₱68.5

77.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.86

$0.77 ₱47.14

-9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.79 ₱171

20.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱610

$8.03 ₱493

23.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.9

$1.19 ₱73.2

21.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱132

$1.99 ₱122

8.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.58

$0.26 ₱15.75

96.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱741

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.3

$0.83 ₱51.2

4.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.71

$0.24 ₱14.75

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.19 ₱135

-4.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.2

$1.13 ₱69.7

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$26.4K ₱1.6M

0.56%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

11.73%

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

$136 ₱8,343

$111 ₱6,785

22.95%

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

$22.22 ₱1,364

$32.66 ₱2,006

-31.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,695

$27.27 ₱1,674

1.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,624

$33.81 ₱2,076

26.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱432

$4.36 ₱268

61.47%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱409

$5.78 ₱355

15.40%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$152 ₱9,350

138.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱696.9K

$4,234 ₱260.0K

168.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,884

$46.45 ₱2,852

1.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,128

$26.93 ₱1,653

28.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,100

$75.4 ₱4,627

10.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,838

$54.0 ₱3,313

-14.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱30.0K

$269 ₱16.5K

81.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.2K

$179 ₱11.0K

46.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.7K

$588 ₱36.1K

190.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.5K

$390 ₱24.0K

60.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱271.0K

$2,081 ₱127.8K

112.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱155.1K

$931 ₱57.1K

171.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.2K

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Bago: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $488 in Manila and $269 in Bago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $26.00 in Manila vs $18.00 in Bago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $207 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 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,452 in Manila and $1,157 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: $488 in Manila versus $269 in Bago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $363 in Manila versus $152 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 $26.00 in Manila. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $771 in Bago versus $968 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 25% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.