Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Calapan City Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Calapan City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $801 in Calapan City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,245 in Calapan City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,688 in Calapan City, rent included.

Manila costs about 20% more than Calapan City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Calapan City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Calapan City 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$3.47 ₱214

55.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$17.93 ₱1,106

49.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.34 ₱206

35.93%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$2.46 ₱152

6.50%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.77 ₱47.34

27.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.37 ₱22.71

45.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.35 ₱83.4

9.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.07 ₱128

31.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$1.86 ₱115

5.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.26 ₱77.6

11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$1.03 ₱63.6

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.06 ₱127

0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$8.12 ₱501

12.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$4.17 ₱257

24.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$7.60 ₱469

14.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$2.86 ₱177

18.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.52 ₱93.6

19.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$2.60 ₱160

40.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.61 ₱99.5

56.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$2.27 ₱140

23.79%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$2.60 ₱160

18.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$1.11 ₱68.6

79.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.76 ₱46.79

-9.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$2.86 ₱176

20.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$8.27 ₱510

20.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.20 ₱73.8

24.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.05 ₱127

6.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.26 ₱15.84

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

$14.26 ₱880

-17.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.78 ₱47.95

19.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.22 ₱13.49

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.08 ₱128

3.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.12 ₱68.9

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$27.1K ₱1.7M

-1.84%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

13.78%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$112 ₱6,934

19.79%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$32.87 ₱2,028

-33.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$27.52 ₱1,697

1.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$33.61 ₱2,073

25.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$4.47 ₱276

56.60%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$6.02 ₱371

11.79%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$150 ₱9,268

143.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$4,313 ₱266.0K

168.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$46.18 ₱2,848

1.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$26.38 ₱1,627

32.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$75.9 ₱4,680

7.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$54.1 ₱3,337

-15.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$265 ₱16.3K

84.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$175 ₱10.8K

54.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$587 ₱36.2K

187.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$390 ₱24.0K

61.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

$2,415 ₱149.0K

79.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

$1,635 ₱100.9K

61.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$123 ₱7,566

268.76%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Calapan City: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $265 in Calapan City. 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 269% 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 $18.00 in Calapan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $206 – making Calapan City 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 Calapan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manila is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $1,202 in Calapan City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calapan City, 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 $18.00 in Calapan City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $963 in Manila and $801 in Calapan City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Calapan City, where all-in costs run around $801, than in Manila at $963. In Calapan City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Calapan City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Calapan City. 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.