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 $968 per month in Manila vs $682 in Cauayan City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Manila vs $1,053 in Cauayan City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,085 per month in Manila vs $1,425 in Cauayan City, rent included.

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

Both Manila and Cauayan City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 27% lower, Cauayan City 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱331

$3.45 ₱211

56.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,604

$13.26 ₱812

97.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱264

$2.60 ₱159

66.15%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱162

$2.34 ₱143

13.25%

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

$0.96 ₱58.6

$0.33 ₱20.31

190.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.24

$0.33 ₱20.29

63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.4

$1.04 ₱63.9

47.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱167

$1.73 ₱106

57.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱116

$1.73 ₱106

9.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.5

$1.21 ₱74.0

9.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.6

$0.91 ₱55.9

19.78%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$1.45 ₱89.0

45.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱556

$5.11 ₱313

77.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱313

$3.75 ₱230

36.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱509

$7.26 ₱444

14.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱213

$2.07 ₱127

68.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱112

$0.77 ₱47.32

137.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$2.07 ₱127

76.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$0.74 ₱45.06

235.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$0.86 ₱52.4

211.63%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱189

$1.30 ₱79.9

137.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$0.71 ₱43.47

180.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.73

$0.72 ₱44.15

-2.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.61 ₱160

28.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱609

$9.08 ₱556

9.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.6

$1.02 ₱62.4

42.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$2.15 ₱132

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.48

$0.28 ₱17.20

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱738

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.1

$0.91 ₱55.6

-4.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.66

$0.24 ₱14.78

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.43 ₱149

-13.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.0

$1.15 ₱70.4

-1.74%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$17.8K ₱1.1M

49.03%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

13.99%

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

$136 ₱8,317

$88.9 ₱5,439

52.90%

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

$22.22 ₱1,360

$34.99 ₱2,142

-36.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,690

$26.49 ₱1,622

4.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,616

$34.32 ₱2,101

24.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱431

$4.50 ₱276

56.44%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱408

$4.24 ₱259

57.31%

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

$363 ₱22.2K

$53.0 ₱3,247

584.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱694.8K

$1,753 ₱107.3K

547.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,875

$26.34 ₱1,612

78.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,122

$21.07 ₱1,289

64.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,084

$52.8 ₱3,234

57.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,830

$45.82 ₱2,805

0.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱29.9K

$263 ₱16.1K

85.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.1K

$178 ₱10.9K

47.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.4K

$589 ₱36.0K

189.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.4K

$400 ₱24.5K

56.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱270.2K

$2,583 ₱158.1K

70.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱154.6K

$1,048 ₱64.1K

141.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.1K

$213 ₱13.0K

130.78%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Cauayan City: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Manila versus $263 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 131% 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 $13.00 in Cauayan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $166 – 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: $968 in Manila, $682 in Cauayan City – roughly 42% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,452 per month in Manila and $1,023 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 $968 in Manila and $682 in Cauayan City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $53.0 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 $682, than in Manila at $968. 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 $682 in Cauayan City to $968 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.