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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $538 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,543 per month in Manila vs $1,049 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Manila vs $1,559 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

Manila costs about 78% 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

$5.22 ₱315

$4.45 ₱268

17.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.52 ₱1,597

$35.27 ₱2,124

-24.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 ₱264

$3.57 ₱215

22.69%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ₱164

$2.98 ₱179

-8.72%

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

$0.93 ₱55.9

$0.88 ₱53.0

5.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₱30.63

$0.48 ₱29.06

6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱91.7

$1.43 ₱86.0

6.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ₱163

$2.70 ₱163

0.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₱117

$2.06 ₱124

-5.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 ₱81.9

$1.55 ₱93.1

-12.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱65.5

$0.92 ₱55.4

18.48%

Eggs

$2.10 ₱127

$2.02 ₱122

3.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 ₱570

$3.63 ₱219

160.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.24 ₱316

$3.11 ₱187

68.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.78 ₱529

$6.59 ₱397

33.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱205

$4.07 ₱245

-16.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₱106

$1.22 ₱73.6

45.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 ₱210

$1.93 ₱116

80.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₱145

$0.77 ₱46.50

212.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 ₱161

$1.48 ₱89.0

80.41%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 ₱190

$1.38 ₱83.2

128.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₱122

$1.09 ₱65.6

85.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱41.56

$0.84 ₱50.4

-17.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱202

$2.89 ₱174

15.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.03 ₱604

$5.81 ₱350

72.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱87.9

$0.74 ₱44.48

97.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱129

$1.74 ₱105

22.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.03

$0.28 ₱17.05

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 ₱723

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱55.1

$0.73 ₱43.72

26.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.32

$0.24 ₱14.52

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₱131

$0.92 ₱55.4

136.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱69.6

$1.16 ₱70.0

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$28.1K ₱1.7M

-4.51%

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

$23.1K ₱1.4M

$18.0K ₱1.1M

28.65%

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

$134 ₱8,058

$57.3 ₱3,449

133.67%

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

$22.30 ₱1,343

$20.87 ₱1,257

6.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 ₱1,622

$25.00 ₱1,506

7.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.13 ₱2,537

$12.17 ₱733

246.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.77 ₱408

$2.63 ₱159

157.41%

Cinema Ticket

$6.57 ₱395

$6.82 ₱411

-3.67%

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

$354 ₱21.3K

$151 ₱9,104

134.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱675.0K

$4,292 ₱258.5K

161.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.31 ₱2,849

$26.33 ₱1,586

79.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.90 ₱2,102

$34.39 ₱2,071

1.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.5 ₱4,966

$61.5 ₱3,704

34.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.21 ₱2,783

$47.65 ₱2,870

-3.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.1K

$267 ₱16.1K

87.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.4K

$44.21 ₱2,663

515.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,716 ₱103.3K

$596 ₱35.9K

187.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 ₱38.0K

$402 ₱24.2K

56.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,360 ₱262.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,599 ₱156.5K

$229 ₱13.8K

1035.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$516 ₱31.1K

$208 ₱12.5K

147.88%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Cabanatuan: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $267 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 148% 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 $35.00 in Cabanatuan. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Manila vs $174 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: $957 in Manila, $538 in Cabanatuan – roughly 78% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Manila and $807 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 $35.00 in Cabanatuan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% 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 $538, than in Manila at $957. 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 $538 in Cabanatuan to $957 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.