Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Boracay Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Boracay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $957 in Manila versus $797 in Boracay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,538 in Manila versus $1,392 in Boracay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,118 in Manila versus $1,987 in Boracay.

Living in Manila is roughly 20% more expensive than in Boracay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 28% lower, Boracay 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$3.16 ₱194

67.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$21.07 ₱1,297

28.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$4.81 ₱296

-5.41%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$2.37 ₱146

15.19%

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

$0.96 ₱59.3

$1.27 ₱78.4

-24.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.26 ₱15.86

92.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.31 ₱80.5

17.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$2.17 ₱134

22.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.80 ₱111

5.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$1.26 ₱77.4

5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$0.87 ₱53.8

22.99%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$2.60 ₱160

-20.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$7.88 ₱485

17.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$4.13 ₱254

26.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱527

$7.83 ₱482

9.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$2.99 ₱184

18.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.48 ₱91.2

21.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.58 ₱159

38.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.44 ₱88.6

73.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$1.79 ₱110

55.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$2.60 ₱160

21.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.06 ₱65.2

86.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.71 ₱43.94

-4.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$3.87 ₱238

-14.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$8.26 ₱508

15.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.21 ₱74.6

20.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.02 ₱125

4.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.36 ₱22.34

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.82 ₱50.7

7.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.24 ₱14.80

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.07 ₱127

0.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.28 ₱78.7

-8.59%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$26.6K ₱1.6M

-1.98%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

11.34%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$117 ₱7,185

16.04%

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

$21.56 ₱1,328

$8.78 ₱540

145.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$39.13 ₱2,409

-29.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$53.7 ₱3,306

-22.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.30 ₱265

58.60%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$4.23 ₱261

63.59%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$149 ₱9,181

143.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$4,041 ₱248.8K

186.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$46.67 ₱2,873

0.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$26.65 ₱1,641

29.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$75.6 ₱4,654

8.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$52.9 ₱3,254

-10.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$261 ₱16.1K

86.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$179 ₱11.0K

51.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$581 ₱35.7K

197.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$742 ₱45.7K

-13.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$2,397 ₱147.6K

80.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$957 ₱58.9K

171.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

$238 ₱14.7K

95.94%

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 11, 2026

Last update for Boracay: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $486 in Manila and $261 in Boracay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 96% 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: $27.00 in Manila vs $21.00 in Boracay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $204 per month, with Boracay 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 Boracay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila and Boracay differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($957 vs $797 including rent). Boracay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 96% higher in Manila, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $486 in Manila versus $261 in Boracay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $363 in Manila versus $149 in Boracay. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Boracay – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $27.00 in Manila. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Boracay gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Manila and Boracay 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 Boracay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.