Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Cabanatuan Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Cabanatuan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $623 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,506 per month in Manila vs $959 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,052 per month in Manila vs $1,296 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

Manila costs about 54% more than Cabanatuan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Cabanatuan are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, Cabanatuan 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱341

$3.89 ₱244

39.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,667

$16.96 ₱1,066

56.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$2.81 ₱177

39.50%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱158

$1.77 ₱111

41.81%

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

$1.39 ₱87.1

$0.61 ₱38.03

127.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.4

$0.33 ₱20.81

151.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.2

$0.95 ₱59.8

22.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.57 ₱98.7

74.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.59 ₱100

18.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.9

$1.15 ₱72.0

21.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱62.1

$0.93 ₱58.5

6.45%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$1.99 ₱125

16.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱491

$4.98 ₱313

56.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱310

$3.38 ₱212

45.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱447

$7.98 ₱501

-10.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$2.22 ₱140

45.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.05 ₱65.7

80.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.30 ₱144

30.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱115

$0.77 ₱48.50

136.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$1.71 ₱108

29.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱165

$1.70 ₱107

54.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$0.62 ₱38.98

250.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.18

$0.52 ₱32.90

13.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱200

$2.91 ₱183

9.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱598

$8.52 ₱535

11.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.6

$0.96 ₱60.1

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$1.99 ₱125

1.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.30

$0.30 ₱18.63

56.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱807

$9.95 ₱625

29.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.34

$0.76 ₱47.47

1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.47

$0.25 ₱15.81

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

$1.88 ₱118

4.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.7

$0.94 ₱59.1

35.11%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.1K ₱1.3M

1.74%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.0K ₱1.2M

3.64%

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

$122 ₱7,651

$55.2 ₱3,469

120.55%

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

$15.16 ₱952

$17.82 ₱1,120

-14.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,508

$21.61 ₱1,358

11.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,677

$11.20 ₱704

280.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱358

$4.70 ₱295

21.06%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱433

$5.09 ₱320

35.17%

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

$618 ₱38.8K

$130 ₱8,194

373.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱556.9K

$10.7K ₱673.1K

-17.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,665

$23.56 ₱1,480

147.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,754

$19.53 ₱1,227

42.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,889

$60.0 ₱3,767

29.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,674

$55.2 ₱3,471

5.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.2K

$291 ₱18.3K

87.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$170 ₱10.7K

67.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱121.1K

$535 ₱33.6K

260.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.3K

$299 ₱18.8K

125.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱276.2K

$2,306 ₱144.9K

90.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.8K

$907 ₱57.0K

178.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

$161 ₱10.1K

196.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.75

10.07%

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

Last update for Manila: September 12, 2026

Last update for Cabanatuan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Manila versus $291 in Cabanatuan. 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 196% 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 $17.00 in Cabanatuan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $168 – making Cabanatuan 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 Cabanatuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $959 in Manila, $623 in Cabanatuan – roughly 54% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,439 per month in Manila and $934 in Cabanatuan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila and $17.00 in Cabanatuan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $959 in Manila and $623 in Cabanatuan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cabanatuan, where all-in costs run around $623, than in Manila at $959. In Cabanatuan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $623 in Cabanatuan to $959 in Manila. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Cabanatuan. 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.