😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $958 in Manila versus $747 in Bogo City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,515 in Manila versus $1,168 in Bogo City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,073 in Manila versus $1,589 in Bogo City.
😐Living in Manila is roughly 28% more expensive than Bogo City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Manila29% lower, Bogo City44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.45₱331
$4.44₱270
22.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.28₱1,596
$14.89₱904
76.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.32₱263
$2.64₱160
63.64%
Cappuccino
$2.71₱164
$1.74₱106
55.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91₱55.0
$0.42₱25.44
116.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50₱30.58
$0.36₱22.13
38.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.50₱91.0
$1.51₱91.4
-0.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63₱160
$1.40₱85.1
87.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89₱115
$1.68₱102
12.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.38₱83.8
$1.23₱74.8
12.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.08₱65.9
$0.97₱58.7
11.34%
Eggs
$2.14₱130
$2.36₱143
-9.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.52₱578
$10.76₱653
-11.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.33₱324
$3.46₱210
54.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.37₱508
$4.80₱291
74.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39₱206
$2.58₱157
31.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.82₱111
$1.45₱87.8
25.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.66₱222
$3.42₱208
7.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.49₱151
$2.18₱133
14.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.78₱169
$1.58₱96.1
75.95%
Onion(1kg)
$3.05₱185
$1.72₱104
77.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.04₱124
$0.92₱55.9
121.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65₱39.71
$0.52₱31.34
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.42₱208
$3.16₱192
8.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.50₱577
$6.42₱390
47.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44₱87.5
$1.17₱71.0
23.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14₱130
$1.79₱109
19.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51₱31.13
$0.26₱15.58
96.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.85₱719
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91₱55.5
$0.84₱51.0
8.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₱15.18
$0.23₱13.90
8.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.08₱126
$2.64₱160
-21.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16₱70.3
$1.14₱68.9
1.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K₱1.6M
$30.5K₱1.9M
-13.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K₱1.4M
$27.7K₱1.7M
-19.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$136₱8,261
$96.1₱5,835
41.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.24₱1,350
$34.10₱2,070
-34.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.14₱1,648
$30.36₱1,844
-10.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15₱2,559
$33.94₱2,061
24.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88₱418
$4.38₱266
57.08%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58₱400
$5.46₱332
20.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$362₱22.0K
$228₱13.9K
58.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.2K₱681.7K
$3,853₱233.9K
191.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.99₱2,853
$46.27₱2,809
1.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.37₱2,148
$22.84₱1,387
54.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.4₱5,001
$76.2₱4,627
8.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.51₱2,824
$56.0₱3,401
-16.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$491₱29.8K
$267₱16.2K
83.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$268₱16.3K
$174₱10.6K
53.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,726₱104.8K
$593₱36.0K
190.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621₱37.7K
$391₱23.8K
58.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,269₱259.2K
$2,178₱132.2K
96.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,574₱156.3K
$1,088₱66.1K
136.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$487₱29.5K
$161₱9,780
202.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.52
8
-6.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Manila: June 7, 2026
Last update for Bogo City: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $491 in Manila and $267 in Bogo City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Manila pays 202% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Manila vs $15.00 in Bogo City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $193 per month, with Bogo City 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 Bogo City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bogo City cheaper than Manila?
Bogo City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Manila or Bogo City?
Manila pays 202% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Manila and Bogo City?
Rent for a central apartment: $491 in Manila versus $267 in Bogo City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Manila and Bogo City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Manila. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Manila vs Bogo City?
All in, you'll spend $958 per month in Manila versus $747 in Bogo City – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Manila or Bogo City?
At $747 in Bogo City versus $958 in Manila, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bogo City but tight or insufficient in Manila. The gap between the two cities makes Bogo City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Manila or Bogo City more family-friendly?
For families, Bogo City 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.
Which city is safer, Manila or Bogo City?
Safety-wise, Manila and Bogo City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bogo City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.