Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Cagayan de Oro City Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Cagayan de Oro City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $957 in Manila versus $760 in Cagayan de Oro City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,538 in Manila versus $1,122 in Cagayan de Oro City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,118 in Manila versus $1,484 in Cagayan de Oro City.

Living in Manila is roughly 26% more expensive than in Cagayan de Oro City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 28% lower, Cagayan de Oro City 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$3.88 ₱239

36.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$14.45 ₱890

87.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$3.38 ₱208

34.62%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$2.52 ₱155

8.33%

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

$0.96 ₱59.3

$0.98 ₱60.1

-2.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.36 ₱21.87

38.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.46 ₱90.0

5.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$2.39 ₱147

10.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.65 ₱102

15.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$0.91 ₱55.8

46.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$0.92 ₱56.6

16.30%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$2.40 ₱147

-13.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$6.11 ₱376

51.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$3.64 ₱224

43.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱527

$6.64 ₱409

28.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$2.33 ₱143

51.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.13 ₱69.9

59.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.37 ₱146

51.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.28 ₱78.6

95.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$2.26 ₱139

23.01%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$2.81 ₱173

12.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$0.91 ₱55.8

117.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.47 ₱28.72

44.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.49 ₱153

32.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$3.99 ₱246

138.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.42 ₱87.3

2.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.55 ₱95.6

36.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.41 ₱25.24

17.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

$8.46 ₱521

43.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.70 ₱42.93

25.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.22 ₱13.54

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.07 ₱127

0.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.14 ₱70.4

2.63%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

27.27%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$19.5K ₱1.2M

17.21%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$106 ₱6,542

27.44%

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

$21.56 ₱1,328

$39.96 ₱2,460

-46.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$33.15 ₱2,041

-16.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$21.81 ₱1,343

89.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$3.32 ₱204

105.42%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$4.56 ₱281

51.75%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$186 ₱11.5K

94.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$2,518 ₱155.1K

360.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$35.44 ₱2,182

32.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$14.29 ₱880

140.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$56.6 ₱3,482

44.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$43.47 ₱2,676

9.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$356 ₱21.9K

36.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$214 ₱13.2K

26.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$579 ₱35.6K

198.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$374 ₱23.0K

71.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$1,611 ₱99.2K

168.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$989 ₱60.9K

163.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

$313 ₱19.3K

49.01%

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 Cagayan de Oro City: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $486 in Manila and $356 in Cagayan de Oro City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 49% 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 $14.00 in Cagayan de Oro City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $169 per month, with Cagayan de Oro City 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 Cagayan de Oro City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila and Cagayan de Oro City differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($957 vs $760 including rent). Cagayan de Oro City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 49% 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 $356 in Cagayan de Oro City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Manila. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Cagayan de Oro City – a meal for two runs $14.00 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 Cagayan de Oro City 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 Cagayan de Oro City 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 Cagayan de Oro City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.