Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Dagupan Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Dagupan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $953 per month in Manila vs $763 in Dagupan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,548 per month in Manila vs $1,135 in Dagupan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Manila vs $1,507 in Dagupan, rent included.

Manila costs about 25% more than Dagupan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Dagupan are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, Dagupan 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.61 ₱346

$3.00 ₱185

87.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.02 ₱1,604

$12.06 ₱743

115.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.09 ₱252

$4.48 ₱276

-8.71%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱155

$2.47 ₱152

2.02%

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

$1.46 ₱90.2

$0.48 ₱29.36

204.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.25 ₱15.41

224.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ₱73.6

$1.19 ₱73.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.75 ₱169

-0.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.78 ₱110

12.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱93.3

$1.32 ₱81.1

14.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 ₱64.2

$0.98 ₱60.7

6.12%

Eggs

$2.30 ₱142

$1.92 ₱118

19.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.00 ₱493

$5.83 ₱359

37.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.92 ₱303

$4.73 ₱292

4.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.89 ₱425

$7.17 ₱442

-3.91%

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 ₱212

$4.18 ₱258

-17.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$1.97 ₱121

-7.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.14 ₱194

$2.40 ₱148

30.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.15 ₱70.6

57.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.99 ₱184

-23.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 ₱165

$3.55 ₱219

-24.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 ₱126

$1.11 ₱68.7

84.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₱36.86

$0.54 ₱33.41

11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.09 ₱191

$2.47 ₱152

25.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.87 ₱609

$5.77 ₱356

71.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱83.0

$0.92 ₱56.9

46.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 ₱131

$1.91 ₱118

11.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.48

$0.22 ₱13.59

118.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.82 ₱790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₱52.3

$0.68 ₱41.72

25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.82

$0.24 ₱14.81

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 ₱119

$1.90 ₱117

1.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ₱78.9

$1.04 ₱64.1

23.08%

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

$21.7K ₱1.3M

$21.8K ₱1.3M

-0.51%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

0.11%

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

$122 ₱7,536

$105 ₱6,498

15.96%

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

$15.72 ₱969

$16.44 ₱1,013

-4.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.31 ₱1,498

$26.79 ₱1,651

-9.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.75 ₱2,759

$34.13 ₱2,104

31.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.03 ₱372

Cinema Ticket

$7.40 ₱456

$5.04 ₱311

46.83%

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

$573 ₱35.3K

$806 ₱49.7K

-28.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,198 ₱567.0K

$7,681 ₱473.5K

19.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 ₱3,643

$62.3 ₱3,841

-5.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.46 ₱1,754

$8.22 ₱507

246.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.4 ₱4,834

$84.2 ₱5,190

-6.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.2 ₱3,649

$106 ₱6,531

-44.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$546 ₱33.6K

$195 ₱12.0K

180.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 ₱18.0K

$160 ₱9,868

82.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 ₱120.1K

$358 ₱22.1K

443.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 ₱41.6K

$273 ₱16.8K

146.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,284 ₱264.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,542 ₱156.7K

$480 ₱29.6K

429.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$469 ₱28.9K

$244 ₱15.0K

92.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

7.5

-0.93%

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

Last update for Manila: August 17, 2026

Last update for Dagupan: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $546 in Manila versus $195 in Dagupan. 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $12.00 in Dagupan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $200 – making Dagupan 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 Dagupan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manila is pricier by about 25%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,430 per month in Manila and $1,144 in Dagupan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dagupan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Manila and $12.00 in Dagupan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Manila, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dagupan, where all-in costs run around $763, than in Manila at $953. In Dagupan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dagupan – 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 Dagupan. 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.