Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Calbayog Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Calbayog

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $968 per month in Manila vs $705 in Calbayog, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Manila vs $1,056 in Calbayog, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,085 per month in Manila vs $1,408 in Calbayog, rent included.

Manila costs about 37% more than Calbayog, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Calbayog are more affordable than the global median – Manila 27% lower, Calbayog 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱331

$3.47 ₱212

55.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,604

$17.49 ₱1,071

49.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱264

$3.25 ₱199

32.92%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱162

$2.44 ₱150

8.61%

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

$0.96 ₱58.6

$0.77 ₱46.87

24.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.24

$0.36 ₱22.20

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.4

$1.36 ₱83.1

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱167

$2.08 ₱127

31.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱116

$1.30 ₱79.8

46.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.5

$1.27 ₱77.9

4.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.6

$0.98 ₱60.1

11.22%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$1.99 ₱122

6.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱556

$7.86 ₱481

15.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱313

$3.84 ₱235

33.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱509

$7.58 ₱464

9.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱213

$1.64 ₱100

112.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱112

$0.99 ₱60.3

84.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$2.57 ₱158

42.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.61 ₱98.4

54.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$2.22 ₱136

20.72%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱189

$2.52 ₱154

22.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$1.06 ₱64.7

87.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.73

$0.77 ₱47.40

-9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$4.28 ₱262

-21.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱609

$7.22 ₱442

37.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.6

$0.77 ₱47.05

88.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.00 ₱61.4

115.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.48

$0.28 ₱17.14

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱738

$21.15 ₱1,295

-42.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.1

$0.79 ₱48.26

10.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.66

$0.24 ₱14.70

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.10 ₱129

-0.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.0

$1.53 ₱93.8

-26.14%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$27.0K ₱1.7M

-1.67%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.1K ₱1.2M

14.71%

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

$136 ₱8,317

$112 ₱6,880

20.89%

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

$22.22 ₱1,360

$32.51 ₱1,990

-31.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,690

$27.17 ₱1,663

1.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,616

$34.29 ₱2,099

24.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱431

$4.46 ₱273

57.85%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱408

$5.82 ₱356

14.60%

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

$363 ₱22.2K

$153 ₱9,393

136.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱694.8K

$4,352 ₱266.4K

160.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,875

$45.26 ₱2,771

3.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,122

$26.79 ₱1,640

29.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,084

$73.9 ₱4,524

12.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,830

$52.7 ₱3,226

-12.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱29.9K

$174 ₱10.7K

180.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.1K

$108 ₱6,630

142.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.4K

$342 ₱20.9K

398.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.4K

$186 ₱11.4K

238.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱270.2K

$2,646 ₱161.9K

66.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱154.6K

$877 ₱53.7K

187.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.1K

$153 ₱9,380

220.87%

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 25, 2026

Last update for Calbayog: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Manila versus $174 in Calbayog. 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 221% 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $17.00 in Calbayog. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $181 – making Calbayog 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 Calbayog: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manila is pricier by about 37%, 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 $1,452 per month in Manila and $1,057 in Calbayog. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 33% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Manila and $17.00 in Calbayog. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Calbayog, where all-in costs run around $705, than in Manila at $968. In Calbayog it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Calbayog – 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 Calbayog. 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.