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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $958 per month in Manila vs $609 in Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,515 per month in Manila vs $998 in Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,073 per month in Manila vs $1,387 in Cavite, rent included.

Manila costs about 57% more than Cavite, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Manila 29% lower, Cavite 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 ₱331

$2.63 ₱160

107.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 ₱1,596

$13.21 ₱802

98.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱263

$2.52 ₱153

71.43%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ₱164

$1.89 ₱114

43.39%

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

$0.91 ₱55.0

$0.68 ₱41.36

33.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.31 ₱18.71

61.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 ₱91.0

$1.21 ₱73.6

23.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₱160

$1.73 ₱105

52.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.64 ₱99.4

15.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱83.8

$1.23 ₱74.9

12.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.9

$1.06 ₱64.1

1.89%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱130

$2.23 ₱136

-4.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 ₱578

$7.36 ₱447

29.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ₱324

$3.72 ₱226

43.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 ₱508

$7.20 ₱437

16.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱206

$2.71 ₱164

25.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.29 ₱78.6

41.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱222

$2.39 ₱145

53.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱151

$1.16 ₱70.5

114.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱169

$1.82 ₱111

52.75%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₱185

$1.63 ₱99.1

87.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ₱124

$0.61 ₱36.84

234.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₱39.71

$0.61 ₱37.03

6.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ₱208

$2.37 ₱144

44.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱577

$4.75 ₱288

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.02 ₱61.8

41.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱130

$1.46 ₱88.6

46.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.13

$0.26 ₱15.64

96.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 ₱719

$3.14 ₱191

277.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱55.5

$0.69 ₱42.16

31.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.18

$0.22 ₱13.28

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱126

$2.44 ₱148

-14.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.3

$1.10 ₱67.1

5.45%

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

$26.3K ₱1.6M

$32.0K ₱1.9M

-17.98%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$20.3K ₱1.2M

9.97%

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

$136 ₱8,261

$49.46 ₱3,003

175.07%

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

$22.24 ₱1,350

$17.79 ₱1,080

25.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.14 ₱1,648

$26.51 ₱1,610

2.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ₱2,559

$34.29 ₱2,082

22.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ₱418

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱400

$5.78 ₱351

13.84%

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

$362 ₱22.0K

$149 ₱9,051

142.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱681.7K

$4,787 ₱290.6K

134.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.99 ₱2,853

$41.53 ₱2,521

13.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 ₱2,148

$26.99 ₱1,639

31.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,001

$73.9 ₱4,488

11.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.51 ₱2,824

$47.02 ₱2,855

-1.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₱29.8K

$161 ₱9,800

204.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.3K

$124 ₱7,549

115.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 ₱104.8K

$262 ₱15.9K

559.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 ₱37.7K

$401 ₱24.4K

54.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,269 ₱259.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,574 ₱156.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$487 ₱29.5K

$224 ₱13.6K

117.64%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Cavite: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $491 in Manila versus $161 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 118% 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 Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 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 57%, 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 $1,437 per month in Manila and $914 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 $958 in Manila and $609 in Cavite. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 277% 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 $609, than in Manila at $958. 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.