Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Caloocan Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Caloocan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $675 in Caloocan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,053 in Caloocan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,432 in Caloocan, rent included.

Manila costs about 43% more than Caloocan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Caloocan are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Caloocan 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$3.56 ₱220

51.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$13.50 ₱832

98.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$2.71 ₱167

67.53%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$1.13 ₱70.0

131.86%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.47 ₱29.00

108.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.37 ₱22.87

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

$1.96 ₱121

39.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$1.90 ₱117

3.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.19 ₱73.4

17.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$1.04 ₱64.3

-0.96%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.01 ₱124

2.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$2.17 ₱134

319.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$2.81 ₱173

85.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$5.50 ₱340

58.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$2.05 ₱127

65.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.10 ₱67.7

64.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$2.34 ₱144

56.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.22 ₱75.5

106.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$1.22 ₱75.2

130.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$2.29 ₱141

34.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$0.72 ₱44.52

176.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.59 ₱36.23

16.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$3.18 ₱196

8.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$4.98 ₱307

100.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.08 ₱66.6

37.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.28 ₱141

-3.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.22 ₱13.60

118.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.79 ₱48.55

17.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.24 ₱14.82

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.32 ₱143

-6.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.11 ₱68.2

0.90%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$32.5K ₱2.0M

-18.26%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

10.99%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$61.0 ₱3,763

120.72%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$10.60 ₱654

107.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$26.26 ₱1,620

6.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$5.20 ₱321

708.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$4.41 ₱272

58.73%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$5.84 ₱360

15.24%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$150 ₱9,272

142.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$4,807 ₱296.5K

140.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$48.06 ₱2,964

-2.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$27.23 ₱1,679

28.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$53.2 ₱3,281

53.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$47.05 ₱2,902

-2.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$284 ₱17.5K

71.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$264 ₱16.3K

2.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$592 ₱36.5K

184.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$526 ₱32.4K

19.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

$2,325 ₱143.4K

86.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$275 ₱16.9K

64.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

4.5

67.11%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Manila: April 27, 2026

Last update for Caloocan: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $284 in Caloocan. 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 65% 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 $13.00 in Caloocan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $151 – making Caloocan 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 Caloocan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila costs about 43% more than Caloocan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $1,013 in Caloocan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Caloocan, 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 $13.00 in Caloocan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 61% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Caloocan, where all-in costs run around $675, than in Manila at $963. In Caloocan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Caloocan costs $675 versus $963 in Manila. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Caloocan. 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.