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: $958 in Manila versus $771 in Bago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,515 in Manila versus $1,219 in Bago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,073 in Manila versus $1,667 in Bago.

Living in Manila is roughly 24% more expensive than Bago, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 29% lower, Bago 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 ₱331

$3.59 ₱218

51.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 ₱1,596

$17.78 ₱1,079

47.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱263

$3.24 ₱197

33.33%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ₱164

$2.37 ₱144

14.35%

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

$0.91 ₱55.0

$0.78 ₱47.10

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.39 ₱23.81

28.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 ₱91.0

$1.30 ₱79.2

15.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₱160

$2.17 ₱132

21.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.86 ₱113

1.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱83.8

$1.23 ₱74.5

12.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.9

$0.98 ₱59.7

10.20%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱130

$2.08 ₱126

2.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 ₱578

$8.22 ₱499

15.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ₱324

$4.34 ₱264

22.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 ₱508

$7.87 ₱478

6.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱206

$2.94 ₱178

15.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.57 ₱95.4

15.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱222

$2.64 ₱160

38.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱151

$1.59 ₱96.7

56.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱169

$2.32 ₱141

19.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₱185

$2.51 ₱152

21.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ₱124

$1.11 ₱67.5

83.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₱39.71

$0.73 ₱44.16

-10.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ₱208

$2.89 ₱175

18.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱577

$9.13 ₱554

4.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.16 ₱70.6

24.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱130

$2.04 ₱124

4.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.13

$0.28 ₱17.04

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 ₱719

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱55.5

$0.77 ₱46.91

18.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.18

$0.24 ₱14.65

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱126

$2.19 ₱133

-5.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.3

$1.14 ₱69.3

1.75%

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

$26.3K ₱1.6M

$26.1K ₱1.6M

0.48%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$20.3K ₱1.2M

10.13%

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

$136 ₱8,261

$112 ₱6,825

21.04%

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

$22.24 ₱1,350

$32.29 ₱1,960

-31.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.14 ₱1,648

$27.92 ₱1,695

-2.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ₱2,559

$34.25 ₱2,080

23.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ₱418

$4.52 ₱274

52.21%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱400

$5.91 ₱359

11.34%

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

$362 ₱22.0K

$151 ₱9,145

140.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱681.7K

$4,380 ₱266.0K

156.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.99 ₱2,853

$45.15 ₱2,741

4.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 ₱2,148

$26.95 ₱1,636

31.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,001

$73.9 ₱4,485

11.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.51 ₱2,824

$52.9 ₱3,212

-12.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₱29.8K

$271 ₱16.4K

81.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.3K

$176 ₱10.7K

52.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 ₱104.8K

$598 ₱36.3K

188.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 ₱37.7K

$391 ₱23.7K

58.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,269 ₱259.2K

$2,383 ₱144.7K

79.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,574 ₱156.3K

$925 ₱56.2K

178.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$487 ₱29.5K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Bago: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $491 in Manila and $271 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 $242 vs $209 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 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,437 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: $491 in Manila versus $271 in Bago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $362 in Manila versus $151 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 $958 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 24% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.