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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $683 in Cauayan City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,050 in Cauayan City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,417 in Cauayan City, rent included.

Manila costs about 41% more than Cauayan City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$3.62 ₱223

48.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$13.25 ₱817

102.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$2.71 ₱167

67.53%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$2.28 ₱141

14.91%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.33 ₱20.48

196.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.31 ₱18.85

74.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.03 ₱63.7

43.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$1.74 ₱107

56.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$1.69 ₱104

15.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.21 ₱74.5

15.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$0.93 ₱57.4

10.75%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$1.45 ₱89.4

42.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$5.06 ₱312

80.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$3.76 ₱232

38.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$7.06 ₱435

23.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$2.14 ₱132

58.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$0.77 ₱47.67

135.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$2.08 ₱128

75.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$0.68 ₱42.00

270.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$0.87 ₱53.5

222.99%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$1.35 ₱83.1

128.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$0.69 ₱42.49

188.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.69 ₱42.41

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$2.55 ₱157

34.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$8.90 ₱549

12.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.04 ₱63.9

43.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.26 ₱15.88

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.87 ₱53.7

6.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.22 ₱13.50

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.46 ₱152

-12.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.15 ₱71.0

-2.61%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$17.7K ₱1.1M

50.53%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

11.29%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$90.1 ₱5,557

49.46%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$34.63 ₱2,136

-36.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$26.29 ₱1,622

6.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$34.18 ₱2,109

23.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$4.36 ₱269

60.55%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$4.27 ₱263

57.61%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$52.2 ₱3,222

599.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$1,784 ₱110.0K

548.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$26.94 ₱1,662

74.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$21.45 ₱1,323

63.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$52.7 ₱3,249

55.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$47.29 ₱2,917

-2.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$268 ₱16.5K

82.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$175 ₱10.8K

53.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$576 ₱35.5K

192.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$393 ₱24.2K

60.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

$2,605 ₱160.7K

66.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$213 ₱13.1K

112.68%

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 Cauayan City: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $268 in Cauayan 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 113% 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 Cauayan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $164 – making Cauayan 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 Cauayan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $963 in Manila, $683 in Cauayan City – roughly 41% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $1,025 in Cauayan City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $963 in Manila and $683 in Cauayan City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $365 per month in Manila and $52.2 in Cauayan City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cauayan City, where all-in costs run around $683, than in Manila at $963. In Cauayan City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $683 in Cauayan City to $963 in Manila. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Cauayan 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.