Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Cotabato City Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Cotabato City

😐 Solo nomad: Manila is 21.4% more expensive than Cotabato City without rent, and 35.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Manila is 44.4% more expensive than Cotabato City without rent, and 35.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manila
Cotabato City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.25 β‚±292
$4.54 β‚±253
15.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.12 β‚±1,455
$23.81 β‚±1,326
9.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.48 β‚±250
$4.72 β‚±263
-5.08%
Cappuccino
$2.67 β‚±148
$2.08 β‚±116
28.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 β‚±50.5
$0.82 β‚±45.63
10.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 β‚±29.61
$0.5 β‚±27.71
6.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.55 β‚±86.5
$1.45 β‚±80.5
6.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 β‚±149
$1.79 β‚±99.5
49.72%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Manila
Cotabato City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.9 β‚±106
$1.09 β‚±60.6
74.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.34 β‚±74.7
$0.34 β‚±18.77
294.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.09 β‚±60.6
$0.85 β‚±47.57
28.24%
Eggs
$2.15 β‚±120
$1.97 β‚±110
9.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.46 β‚±527
$6.07 β‚±338
55.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.32 β‚±296
$3.23 β‚±180
64.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 β‚±478
$7.18 β‚±400
19.64%
Apples (1kg)
$3.44 β‚±191
$1.45 β‚±80.8
137.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 β‚±101
$1.07 β‚±59.6
70.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.59 β‚±200
$1.07 β‚±59.6
235.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 β‚±134
$1.17 β‚±65.2
105.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 β‚±154
$1.23 β‚±68.4
125.20%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 β‚±169
$1.53 β‚±85.1
98.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 β‚±108
$0.55 β‚±30.6
252.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 β‚±35.46
$0.6 β‚±33.67
6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44 β‚±192
$0.93 β‚±51.8
269.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.57 β‚±477
$4.27 β‚±238
100.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 β‚±84
$1.41 β‚±78.4
7.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 β‚±118
$1.55 β‚±86.5
36.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Manila
Cotabato City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 β‚±26.9
$0.26 β‚±14.47
84.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.17 β‚±678
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.92 β‚±51.3
$0.91 β‚±50.5
1.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 β‚±15.08
$0.23 β‚±12.72
17.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.15 β‚±120
$2.11 β‚±117
1.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 β‚±65.3
$1.13 β‚±63.1
3.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27K β‚±1.5M
$22.1K β‚±1.2M
22.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23K β‚±1.3M
$20.9K β‚±1.2M
9.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manila
Cotabato City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 β‚±7,714
$106 β‚±5,875
31.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.08 β‚±1,229
$34.07 β‚±1,897
-35.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.22 β‚±1,516
$36.63 β‚±2,040
-25.69%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Manila
Cotabato City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.8 β‚±2,383
$34.23 β‚±1,906
25.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 β‚±384
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 β‚±368
$3.13 β‚±174
111.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manila
Cotabato City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$364 β‚±20.2K
$118 β‚±6,594
206.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.2K β‚±623.1K
$4,261 β‚±237.3K
162.64%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Manila
Cotabato City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.95 β‚±2,558
$46.14 β‚±2,569
-0.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.61 β‚±1,983
$29.83 β‚±1,661
19.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.5 β‚±4,648
$76.6 β‚±4,264
9.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.92 β‚±2,612
$68.4 β‚±3,810
-31.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manila
Cotabato City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$503 β‚±28K
$268 β‚±14.9K
87.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$262 β‚±14.6K
$174 β‚±9,704
50.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,724 β‚±96K
$585 β‚±32.6K
194.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 β‚±34.6K
$391 β‚±21.7K
59.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,633 β‚±202.3K
$2,259 β‚±125.8K
60.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,336 β‚±130.1K
-
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Manila
Cotabato City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 β‚±27.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.52
9.56
-21.34%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Manila: October 28, 2025

Last update for Cotabato City: October 28, 2025

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