Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Bogo City

For one person, living is cheaper in Bogo City: $728 a month against $922 in Manila, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Manila, Philippines
Bogo City, Philippines
Manila
🇵🇭 Philippines
$922
/mo nomad
Bogo City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$728
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Manila and in Bogo City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Manila and in Bogo City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $922 in Manila versus $728 in Bogo City.

  • Manila $922
  • Bogo City $728

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,531 in Manila versus $1,120 in Bogo City.

  • Manila $1,531
  • Bogo City $1,120

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,140 in Manila versus $1,512 in Bogo City.

  • Manila $2,140
  • Bogo City $1,512

Living in Manila is roughly 27% more expensive than in Bogo City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 32% lower, Bogo City 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ₱296
$3.84 ₱244
21.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.32 ₱1,673
$23.41 ₱1,489
12.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.02 ₱256
$3.85 ₱245
4.42%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱159
$2.56 ₱163
-1.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 ₱87.2
$0.69 ₱43.81
98.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 ₱56.5
$0.49 ₱31.34
81.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.20 ₱76.1
$1.68 ₱107
-28.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 ₱149
$2.23 ₱142
4.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ₱119
$1.37 ₱86.9
36.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ₱89.6
$1.15 ₱72.9
22.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 ₱64.6
$0.92 ₱58.6
10.87%
Eggs
$2.19 ₱139
$1.99 ₱126
10.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.47 ₱475
$4.77 ₱303
56.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.86 ₱309
$3.06 ₱195
58.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.98 ₱444
$5.26 ₱334
32.70%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ₱208
$3.17 ₱201
3.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 ₱115
$1.36 ₱86.2
33.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.90 ₱185
$2.35 ₱150
23.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 ₱122
$1.51 ₱95.7
26.49%
Potato (1kg)
$2.30 ₱146
$2.36 ₱150
-2.54%
Onion (1kg)
$2.69 ₱171
$1.88 ₱120
43.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 ₱139
$1.10 ₱70.2
98.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ₱36.47
$0.61 ₱38.61
-6.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07 ₱195
$2.87 ₱182
6.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 ₱594
$6.03 ₱383
54.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 ₱81.0
$1.27 ₱80.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ₱130
$1.64 ₱104
25.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 ₱21.01
$0.22 ₱13.94
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.80 ₱814
$12.44 ₱791
2.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.78 ₱49.28
$0.76 ₱48.16
2.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.20 ₱12.70
$0.22 ₱14.01
-9.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.85 ₱118
$1.83 ₱116
1.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱83.3
$1.30 ₱82.9
0.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K ₱1.3M
$21.2K ₱1.3M
-1.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ₱1.2M
$19.2K ₱1.2M
1.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 ₱6,946
$117 ₱7,436
-6.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.71 ₱999
$15.27 ₱971
2.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.58 ₱1,563
$27.49 ₱1,748
-10.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.75 ₱2,655
$31.18 ₱1,983
33.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.84 ₱372
$5.33 ₱339
9.57%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42 ₱408
$5.48 ₱349
17.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$606 ₱38.5K
$131 ₱8,323
362.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,674 ₱487.9K
$7,803 ₱496.1K
-1.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ₱3,550
$32.32 ₱2,055
72.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.57 ₱1,817
$19.26 ₱1,224
48.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.9 ₱4,381
$75.2 ₱4,780
-8.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.3 ₱3,706
$58.0 ₱3,690
0.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$533 ₱33.9K
$248 ₱15.8K
114.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$289 ₱18.4K
$170 ₱10.8K
70.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,916 ₱121.8K
$487 ₱31.0K
293.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$780 ₱49.6K
$346 ₱22.0K
125.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,078 ₱259.3K
$2,666 ₱169.5K
52.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,432 ₱154.6K
$1,118 ₱71.1K
117.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manila
Bogo City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$505 ₱32.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.43
7.2
3.19%

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

Last update for Manila: November 2, 2026

Last update for Bogo City: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Manila
$289
Bogo City
$170 41.3% $119
Groceries & Markets
Manila
$219
Bogo City
$167 23.5% $51
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manila
$150
Bogo City
$160 6.8% $10
Eating Out
Manila
$99
Bogo City
$91 8.6% $8.5
Clothing & Footwear
Manila
$95
Bogo City
$83 12.7% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Manila
$55
Bogo City
$42 22.8% $12
Getting Around
Manila
$16
Bogo City
$15 4.5% $0.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $533 in Manila and $248 in Bogo City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $26 in Manila vs $23 in Bogo City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $167 per month, with Bogo City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Manila
🇵🇭 Bogo City
🕒 Local time
11:50 11:50 AM
11:50 11:50 AM
Same time as Manila
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,780,148 Capital
23,562
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 63.58 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.57 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Manila Bogo City 510 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Manila
  • Bogo City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 about 21% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,383 in Manila and $1,092 in Bogo City 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.
What is the rent difference between Manila and Bogo City?
Rent for a central apartment: $533 in Manila versus $248 in Bogo City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Manila and in Bogo City?
All in, you’ll spend $922 per month in Manila versus $728 in Bogo City – Bogo City is about 21% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Bogo City runs roughly 3% less than in Manila. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Is it better to live in Manila or in Bogo City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bogo City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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