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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $927 per month in Manila vs $566 in Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $885 in Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,204 in Cavite, rent included.

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

Both Manila and Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Cavite 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱324

$2.34 ₱146

120.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,621

$15.99 ₱1,003

61.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱246

$2.39 ₱150

64.44%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱158

$1.77 ₱111

42.37%

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

$1.36 ₱85.1

$0.61 ₱38.01

122.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.31 ₱19.74

167.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.8

$0.98 ₱61.2

15.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.62 ₱102

69.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱119

$1.43 ₱89.4

32.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.6

$1.11 ₱69.7

28.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$0.89 ₱55.7

10.11%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱140

$1.92 ₱121

16.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱501

$5.20 ₱326

53.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱294

$3.38 ₱212

38.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱427

$6.19 ₱388

10.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱208

$2.11 ₱132

57.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$1.15 ₱72.1

59.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.39 ₱150

24.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.07 ₱67.1

73.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱142

$1.72 ₱108

31.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱169

$1.54 ₱96.4

75.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$0.53 ₱33.24

296.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.83

$0.52 ₱32.67

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱201

$2.02 ₱127

58.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱602

$4.75 ₱298

102.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱83.0

$0.88 ₱55.4

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱132

$1.25 ₱78.2

68.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱29.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱795

$13.32 ₱835

-4.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.62 ₱38.81

33.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.47

$0.23 ₱14.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱117

$1.87 ₱118

-0.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.6

$1.20 ₱75.1

3.33%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.5K ₱1.4M

-0.90%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$18.9K ₱1.2M

2.11%

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

$122 ₱7,647

$89.2 ₱5,592

36.76%

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

$14.83 ₱930

$13.79 ₱865

7.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,502

$23.86 ₱1,496

0.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,662

$48.25 ₱3,025

-12.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱363

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱431

$5.14 ₱322

33.85%

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

$621 ₱38.9K

$132 ₱8,251

371.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱555.8K

$10.8K ₱676.0K

-17.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,604

$29.15 ₱1,827

97.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,758

$19.35 ₱1,213

44.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,866

$71.1 ₱4,456

9.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,628

$55.9 ₱3,506

3.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.5K

$135 ₱8,447

296.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱18.0K

$82.9 ₱5,195

246.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$238 ₱15.0K

708.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.6K

$190 ₱11.9K

250.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱273.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱160.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.7K

$225 ₱14.1K

109.97%

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 8, 2026

Last update for Cavite: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $135 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 110% 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 $16.00 in Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $153 – 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 64%, 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 $1,391 per month in Manila and $849 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 $927 in Manila and $566 in Cavite. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 5% 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 $566, than in Manila at $927. 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.