Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Cavite Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Cavite

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $590 in Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $995 in Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,400 in Cavite, rent included.

Manila costs about 63% more than Cavite, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Cavite 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$2.61 ₱161

106.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$13.42 ₱828

99.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$2.57 ₱159

76.65%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$1.94 ₱120

35.05%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.67 ₱41.36

46.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.31 ₱19.05

74.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.23 ₱75.8

20.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$1.72 ₱106

58.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$1.72 ₱106

13.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.24 ₱76.5

12.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$1.00 ₱61.9

3.00%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.16 ₱133

-4.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$7.43 ₱459

22.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$3.87 ₱239

34.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$6.91 ₱426

25.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$2.62 ₱161

29.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.30 ₱80.1

39.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$2.29 ₱141

59.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.20 ₱74.2

110.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$1.84 ₱113

52.72%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$1.71 ₱105

80.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$0.60 ₱37.29

231.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.62 ₱38.08

11.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$2.32 ₱143

48.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$5.05 ₱312

97.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.03 ₱63.4

44.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.44 ₱88.8

52.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.28 ₱17.42

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

$3.13 ₱193

277.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.72 ₱44.59

29.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.24 ₱14.85

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.41 ₱148

-10.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.15 ₱70.9

-2.61%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$32.5K ₱2.0M

-18.11%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

10.65%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$50.8 ₱3,133

165.08%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$17.39 ₱1,073

26.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$26.11 ₱1,610

7.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$33.93 ₱2,093

23.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$5.83 ₱360

15.44%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$151 ₱9,324

141.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$4,745 ₱292.7K

143.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$40.78 ₱2,516

15.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$26.30 ₱1,622

33.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$74.7 ₱4,605

9.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$47.03 ₱2,901

-2.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$158 ₱9,755

209.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$124 ₱7,661

117.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$269 ₱16.6K

527.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$396 ₱24.4K

59.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$234 ₱14.5K

92.94%

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 Cavite: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $158 in Cavite. 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 93% 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 Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $177 – making Cavite 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 Cavite: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manila is pricier by about 63%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $884 in Cavite. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cavite, 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 $590 in Cavite. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 278% less in Cavite. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cavite, where all-in costs run around $590, than in Manila at $963. In Cavite it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cavite – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Cavite. 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.