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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $968 per month in Manila vs $590 in Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Manila vs $996 in Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,085 per month in Manila vs $1,401 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 27% lower, Cavite 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱332

$2.58 ₱159

109.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,609

$13.54 ₱831

93.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱265

$2.65 ₱163

63.02%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱163

$1.87 ₱115

41.71%

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

$0.96 ₱58.8

$0.68 ₱41.73

41.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.34

$0.33 ₱20.37

63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.7

$1.23 ₱75.3

24.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$1.79 ₱110

52.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.64 ₱101

15.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.7

$1.20 ₱74.0

10.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.8

$1.06 ₱64.8

2.83%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$2.16 ₱133

-2.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱558

$7.57 ₱465

20.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱314

$3.88 ₱238

31.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱511

$6.95 ₱427

19.71%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱214

$2.68 ₱165

29.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱113

$1.37 ₱83.9

33.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$2.37 ₱145

54.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.20 ₱73.8

106.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$1.83 ₱112

46.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱190

$1.66 ₱102

86.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$0.60 ₱36.59

231.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.86

$0.57 ₱35.19

22.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.33 ₱143

44.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱610

$4.74 ₱291

109.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.9

$1.02 ₱62.8

42.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱132

$1.38 ₱84.9

55.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.58

$0.28 ₱17.39

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱741

$3.03 ₱186

298.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.3

$0.74 ₱45.71

17.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.71

$0.24 ₱14.75

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.32 ₱143

-9.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.2

$1.14 ₱70.0

-0.88%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$32.4K ₱2.0M

-18.15%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

14.04%

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

$136 ₱8,343

$50.3 ₱3,086

170.33%

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

$22.22 ₱1,364

$17.56 ₱1,078

26.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,695

$26.08 ₱1,602

5.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,624

$33.27 ₱2,043

28.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱432

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱409

$5.79 ₱355

15.20%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$150 ₱9,230

141.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱696.9K

$4,754 ₱291.9K

138.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,884

$40.49 ₱2,486

16.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,128

$26.41 ₱1,622

31.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,100

$74.4 ₱4,568

11.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,838

$46.84 ₱2,876

-1.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱30.0K

$160 ₱9,840

204.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.2K

$122 ₱7,510

115.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.7K

$268 ₱16.4K

537.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.5K

$393 ₱24.1K

59.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱271.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱155.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.2K

$222 ₱13.7K

121.06%

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 Cavite: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Manila versus $160 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 121% 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 $14.00 in Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 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 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 $1,452 per month in Manila and $885 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 $968 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 298% 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 $968. 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.