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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $676 in Caloocan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,543 per month in Manila vs $1,036 in Caloocan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Manila vs $1,396 in Caloocan, rent included.

Manila costs about 42% more than Caloocan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Caloocan are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Caloocan 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.22 ₱315

$3.64 ₱219

43.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.52 ₱1,597

$13.54 ₱815

95.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 ₱264

$2.68 ₱161

63.43%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ₱164

$1.13 ₱68.3

140.71%

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

$0.93 ₱55.9

$0.46 ₱27.95

102.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₱30.63

$0.38 ₱22.72

34.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱91.7

$1.36 ₱82.1

11.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ₱163

$2.00 ₱121

35.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₱117

$1.83 ₱110

6.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 ₱81.9

$1.25 ₱75.4

8.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱65.5

$1.01 ₱60.7

7.92%

Eggs

$2.10 ₱127

$1.99 ₱120

5.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 ₱570

$2.19 ₱132

331.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.24 ₱316

$2.92 ₱176

79.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.78 ₱529

$5.63 ₱339

55.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱205

$2.01 ₱121

69.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₱106

$1.15 ₱69.5

53.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 ₱210

$2.23 ₱135

56.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₱145

$1.18 ₱70.9

104.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 ₱161

$1.23 ₱74.0

117.07%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 ₱190

$2.21 ₱133

42.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₱122

$0.68 ₱40.78

197.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱41.56

$0.54 ₱32.67

27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱202

$3.30 ₱199

1.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.03 ₱604

$5.02 ₱303

99.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱87.9

$1.07 ₱64.3

36.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱129

$2.37 ₱142

-9.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.03

$0.20 ₱12.04

160.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 ₱723

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱55.1

$0.78 ₱46.68

17.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.32

$0.24 ₱14.52

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₱131

$2.42 ₱146

-9.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱69.6

$1.15 ₱69.3

0.87%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$31.3K ₱1.9M

-14.30%

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

$23.1K ₱1.4M

$20.3K ₱1.2M

13.88%

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

$134 ₱8,058

$59.2 ₱3,565

126.01%

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

$22.30 ₱1,343

$10.80 ₱651

106.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 ₱1,622

$26.28 ₱1,583

2.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.13 ₱2,537

$5.45 ₱328

673.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.77 ₱408

$4.54 ₱274

49.12%

Cinema Ticket

$6.57 ₱395

$5.83 ₱351

12.69%

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

$354 ₱21.3K

$152 ₱9,175

132.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱675.0K

$4,671 ₱281.3K

139.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.31 ₱2,849

$49.45 ₱2,978

-4.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.90 ₱2,102

$27.59 ₱1,662

26.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.5 ₱4,966

$53.7 ₱3,232

53.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.21 ₱2,783

$46.85 ₱2,822

-1.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.1K

$285 ₱17.2K

75.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.4K

$265 ₱16.0K

2.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,716 ₱103.3K

$594 ₱35.8K

188.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 ₱38.0K

$521 ₱31.4K

20.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,360 ₱262.6K

$2,496 ₱150.3K

74.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,599 ₱156.5K

$907 ₱54.6K

186.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$516 ₱31.1K

$281 ₱16.9K

83.55%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Caloocan: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $285 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 84% 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 $14.00 in Caloocan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $150 – 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 42% 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 $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,014 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 $14.00 in Caloocan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 62% 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 $676, than in Manila at $957. 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 $676 versus $957 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.