Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Bulacan Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Bulacan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $718 in Bulacan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,050 in Bulacan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,383 in Bulacan, rent included.

Manila costs about 34% more than Bulacan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Bulacan are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Bulacan 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$2.70 ₱167

99.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,656

$14.10 ₱870

90.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱268

$2.83 ₱174

53.36%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.22 ₱137

23.87%

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

$0.96 ₱59.0

$0.68 ₱41.87

41.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.31 ₱18.93

61.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.04 ₱63.9

43.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.10 ₱129

24.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱117

$2.11 ₱130

-10.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.4

$1.25 ₱77.1

10.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.92 ₱56.7

14.13%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$1.97 ₱121

10.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$3.04 ₱188

216.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$3.70 ₱228

40.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$6.67 ₱412

24.74%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.07 ₱128

69.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.44 ₱88.6

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.14 ₱132

67.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.43 ₱88.2

74.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$1.74 ₱107

58.62%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$1.52 ₱93.7

99.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$0.88 ₱54.1

128.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.60

$0.84 ₱52.1

-23.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.87 ₱177

15.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$3.63 ₱224

168.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.09 ₱67.3

36.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.62 ₱100

32.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.93

$0.29 ₱17.96

79.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱741

$7.49 ₱462

60.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.76 ₱47.06

13.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.38

$0.24 ₱14.85

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.72 ₱168

-20.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.9

$1.10 ₱67.6

5.45%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$27.1K ₱1.7M

-3.27%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$14.7K ₱906.1K

54.74%

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

$138 ₱8,535

$113 ₱6,947

22.86%

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

$22.24 ₱1,372

$32.16 ₱1,985

-30.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,710

$27.96 ₱1,725

-0.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,555

$40.56 ₱2,502

2.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.40 ₱272

56.59%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$6.38 ₱393

3.13%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$106 ₱6,561

235.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.8K

$4,394 ₱271.1K

161.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,864

$29.90 ₱1,845

55.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,167

$23.35 ₱1,441

50.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,084

$75.8 ₱4,677

8.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,825

$98.2 ₱6,056

-53.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$255 ₱15.7K

95.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$135 ₱8,332

96.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.9K

$392 ₱24.2K

329.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$202 ₱12.4K

215.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.6K

$1,907 ₱117.6K

129.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱157.0K

$1,479 ₱91.2K

72.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$294 ₱18.2K

63.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.17

21.88%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for Bulacan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $255 in Bulacan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 63% higher in Manila, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $14.00 in Bulacan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $165 – making Bulacan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bulacan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila costs about 34% more than Bulacan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $1,076 in Bulacan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bulacan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $959 in Manila and $718 in Bulacan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 60% less in Bulacan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bulacan, where all-in costs run around $718, than in Manila at $959. In Bulacan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bulacan costs $718 versus $959 in Manila. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bulacan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.