Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Bogo City Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Bogo City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $959 in Manila versus $748 in Bogo City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,506 in Manila versus $1,160 in Bogo City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,052 in Manila versus $1,573 in Bogo City.

Living in Manila is roughly 28% more expensive than in Bogo City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 30% lower, Bogo City 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱341

$3.10 ₱195

75.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,667

$22.89 ₱1,438

15.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$3.85 ₱242

1.82%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱158

$2.48 ₱156

1.21%

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

$1.39 ₱87.1

$0.60 ₱37.42

131.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.4

$0.53 ₱33.21

56.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.2

$1.76 ₱111

-34.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$2.27 ₱143

20.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.33 ₱83.4

42.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.9

$1.12 ₱70.4

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱62.1

$0.92 ₱58.0

7.61%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$1.94 ₱122

19.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱491

$10.03 ₱630

-22.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱310

$3.16 ₱198

56.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱447

$5.27 ₱331

34.91%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$3.48 ₱219

-7.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.38 ₱86.8

36.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.39 ₱150

25.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱115

$1.54 ₱96.7

18.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$2.33 ₱146

-4.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱165

$1.99 ₱125

31.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$1.18 ₱74.2

83.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.18

$0.64 ₱40.08

-7.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱200

$2.87 ₱180

10.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱598

$6.31 ₱396

50.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.6

$1.22 ₱76.9

4.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$1.71 ₱107

18.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.30

$0.29 ₱18.50

62.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱807

$10.94 ₱687

17.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.34

$0.79 ₱49.73

-2.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.47

$0.20 ₱12.56

15.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

$1.95 ₱122

0.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.7

$1.32 ₱83.2

-3.79%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₱1.4M

-0.68%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$18.9K ₱1.2M

3.98%

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

$122 ₱7,651

$118 ₱7,424

3.06%

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

$15.16 ₱952

$14.87 ₱934

1.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,508

$27.88 ₱1,752

-13.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,677

$36.52 ₱2,295

16.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱358

$5.05 ₱317

12.67%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱433

$5.61 ₱352

22.64%

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

$618 ₱38.8K

$134 ₱8,415

361.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱556.9K

$7,998 ₱502.5K

10.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,665

$32.32 ₱2,031

80.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,754

$19.34 ₱1,215

44.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,889

$77.8 ₱4,890

-0.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,674

$54.7 ₱3,438

6.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.2K

$264 ₱16.6K

106.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$152 ₱9,534

87.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱121.1K

$544 ₱34.2K

254.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.3K

$353 ₱22.2K

90.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱276.2K

$2,897 ₱182.0K

51.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.8K

$976 ₱61.3K

158.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

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: September 12, 2026

Last update for Bogo City: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $545 in Manila and $264 in Bogo City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Manila vs $23.00 in Bogo City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 vs $186 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

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.

You'd need roughly $1,439 in Manila and $1,122 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $545 in Manila versus $264 in Bogo City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $959 per month in Manila versus $748 in Bogo City – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bogo City runs roughly 17% less than in Manila. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $748 in Bogo City versus $959 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.

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.

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.

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.