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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $586 in Caloocan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,506 per month in Manila vs $916 in Caloocan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,052 per month in Manila vs $1,247 in Caloocan, rent included.

Manila costs about 64% more than Caloocan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Caloocan are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, Caloocan 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱341

$2.41 ₱151

125.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,664

$16.60 ₱1,041

59.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$2.27 ₱142

72.69%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱158

$0.94 ₱59.2

167.02%

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

$1.39 ₱87.0

$0.43 ₱26.89

223.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.31 ₱19.15

167.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.0

$0.94 ₱59.0

23.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.61 ₱101

70.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.61 ₱101

17.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.8

$1.15 ₱72.1

21.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱62.0

$0.93 ₱58.2

6.45%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$1.77 ₱111

30.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱490

$1.86 ₱117

319.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱309

$2.57 ₱161

91.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱446

$5.14 ₱322

38.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$1.84 ₱115

75.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.02 ₱64.3

85.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.04 ₱128

47.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱114

$1.07 ₱67.3

70.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$1.13 ₱70.8

96.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱165

$1.71 ₱107

53.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$0.67 ₱42.10

223.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.12

$0.52 ₱32.38

13.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱199

$2.85 ₱179

11.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱597

$4.64 ₱291

105.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.5

$0.96 ₱60.3

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$2.00 ₱125

1.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.25

$0.22 ₱13.65

113.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱806

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.26

$0.75 ₱46.95

2.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.44

$0.23 ₱14.40

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

$1.88 ₱118

4.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.5

$0.90 ₱56.6

41.11%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₱1.4M

-0.45%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

3.07%

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

$122 ₱7,639

$53.0 ₱3,321

130.01%

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

$15.16 ₱951

$9.76 ₱612

55.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,505

$23.11 ₱1,449

3.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,673

$4.83 ₱303

782.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱357

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱432

$5.02 ₱315

37.05%

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

$618 ₱38.8K

$132 ₱8,289

367.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱555.9K

$10.5K ₱661.4K

-15.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,658

$29.19 ₱1,831

99.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,751

$19.37 ₱1,215

44.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,881

$49.35 ₱3,095

57.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,667

$42.84 ₱2,687

36.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.2K

$266 ₱16.7K

104.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$235 ₱14.8K

21.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$526 ₱33.0K

266.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.2K

$468 ₱29.4K

43.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱275.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

$267 ₱16.8K

78.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.75

10.07%

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

Last update for Manila: September 12, 2026

Last update for Caloocan: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Manila versus $266 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 78% 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 $17.00 in Caloocan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $135 – 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 64% 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 $1,439 per month in Manila and $878 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 $17.00 in Caloocan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 64% 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 $586, than in Manila at $959. 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 $586 versus $959 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.