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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $836 in Dagupan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,222 in Dagupan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,609 in Dagupan, rent included.

Manila costs about 15% more than Dagupan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Dagupan are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Dagupan 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$3.23 ₱199

66.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$13.54 ₱835

97.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$4.81 ₱297

-5.61%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$2.76 ₱170

-5.07%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.51 ₱31.26

92.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.28 ₱17.28

92.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.34 ₱82.9

10.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.98 ₱184

-8.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$2.11 ₱130

-7.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.44 ₱88.6

-2.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$0.89 ₱55.2

15.73%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.19 ₱135

-5.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$6.49 ₱401

40.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$4.40 ₱272

18.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$7.81 ₱482

11.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$4.40 ₱271

-22.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.97 ₱122

-8.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$2.71 ₱167

35.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.26 ₱77.5

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$3.15 ₱194

-10.79%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$2.96 ₱183

4.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$1.10 ₱67.7

80.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.59 ₱36.52

16.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$2.74 ₱169

25.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$5.69 ₱351

75.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.00 ₱61.7

49.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.12 ₱131

3.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.24 ₱14.82

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.69 ₱42.32

34.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.38 ₱23.45

-28.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$3.47 ₱214

-37.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.12 ₱69.0

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$33.5K ₱2.1M

-20.77%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$22.3K ₱1.4M

3.12%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$113 ₱6,987

18.88%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$26.87 ₱1,658

-18.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$29.55 ₱1,822

-5.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$36.99 ₱2,282

13.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$5.82 ₱359

15.64%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$328 ₱20.2K

11.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$7,806 ₱481.5K

48.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$59.3 ₱3,657

-20.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$8.77 ₱541

299.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$85.1 ₱5,249

-3.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$122 ₱7,507

-62.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$218 ₱13.5K

123.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$173 ₱10.7K

55.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$529 ₱32.6K

219.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$296 ₱18.2K

112.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

$500 ₱30.8K

428.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$242 ₱14.9K

86.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.67

12.74%

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

Last update for Manila: April 27, 2026

Last update for Dagupan: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $218 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 87% 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 $27.00 in Manila versus $14.00 in Dagupan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $211 – 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 15%, 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 $1,444 per month in Manila and $1,254 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 $27.00 in Manila and $14.00 in Dagupan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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 $836, than in Manila at $963. 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.