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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $530 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,033 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,535 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

Manila costs about 82% more than Cabanatuan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Cabanatuan are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Cabanatuan 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$4.52 ₱279

19.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$35.89 ₱2,213

-25.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.65 ₱225

24.38%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$2.84 ₱175

-7.75%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.87 ₱53.8

12.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.48 ₱29.81

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.48 ₱91.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.62 ₱162

4.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$2.04 ₱126

-3.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.56 ₱96.4

-10.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$0.93 ₱57.6

10.75%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.06 ₱127

0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$3.47 ₱214

162.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$3.16 ₱195

64.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$6.77 ₱418

28.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$4.09 ₱252

-16.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.21 ₱74.9

49.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$1.98 ₱122

84.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$0.82 ₱50.6

207.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$1.42 ₱87.7

97.89%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$1.45 ₱89.2

113.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$1.04 ₱64.4

91.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.84 ₱52.1

-17.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$2.81 ₱173

22.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$5.88 ₱363

69.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$0.74 ₱45.45

101.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.74 ₱108

25.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.26 ₱16.02

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.74 ₱45.91

25.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.22 ₱13.54

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$0.87 ₱53.8

148.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.11 ₱68.3

0.90%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$28.0K ₱1.7M

-5.13%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$17.8K ₱1.1M

29.19%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$57.9 ₱3,571

132.61%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$20.92 ₱1,290

5.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$24.79 ₱1,529

12.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$12.57 ₱775

234.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$2.73 ₱169

156.41%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$6.96 ₱429

-3.30%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$152 ₱9,346

141.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$4,231 ₱260.9K

173.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$27.12 ₱1,673

73.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$34.09 ₱2,103

2.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$62.6 ₱3,859

30.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$47.71 ₱2,943

-3.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$261 ₱16.1K

87.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$44.47 ₱2,743

506.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$580 ₱35.8K

190.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$395 ₱24.4K

59.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

$229 ₱14.1K

1051.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$206 ₱12.7K

119.72%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Cabanatuan: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $261 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 120% 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 $36.00 in Cabanatuan. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Manila vs $175 in Cabanatuan – so Cabanatuan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $963 in Manila, $530 in Cabanatuan – roughly 82% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $795 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 $36.00 in Cabanatuan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% more in Manila, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cabanatuan, where all-in costs run around $530, than in Manila at $963. 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 $530 in Cabanatuan to $963 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.