Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Davao Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Davao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $959 in Manila versus $821 in Davao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,528 in Manila versus $1,263 in Davao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,097 in Manila versus $1,705 in Davao.

Living in Manila is roughly 17% more expensive than Davao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 28% lower, Davao 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$4.41 ₱272

22.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$24.31 ₱1,499

10.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$4.62 ₱285

-6.06%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.13 ₱131

29.11%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.88 ₱54.2

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.53 ₱32.92

-5.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.39 ₱85.4

7.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.80 ₱111

45.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.76 ₱108

7.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.26 ₱77.5

9.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.91 ₱56.3

15.38%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.06 ₱127

5.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$5.89 ₱363

63.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.50 ₱278

15.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.12 ₱439

16.85%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.88 ₱178

21.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.13 ₱69.8

59.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.40 ₱148

49.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.34 ₱82.6

85.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.22 ₱137

24.32%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$3.15 ₱194

-3.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.32 ₱81.6

52.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.57 ₱34.96

12.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.64 ₱163

25.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$8.01 ₱494

21.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.40 ₱86.3

6.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.56 ₱96.2

37.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.24 ₱14.84

116.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

$14.15 ₱873

-15.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.85 ₱52.3

1.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.23 ₱14.08

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.09 ₱67.0

6.42%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$21.9K ₱1.4M

19.51%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

9.09%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$104 ₱6,405

33.17%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$33.96 ₱2,094

-34.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$35.46 ₱2,187

-21.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$40.61 ₱2,504

1.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.40 ₱272

56.59%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$4.40 ₱271

49.55%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$119 ₱7,328

200.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$8,012 ₱494.0K

43.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$65.6 ₱4,043

-29.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$30.07 ₱1,854

16.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$77.7 ₱4,792

6.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$67.8 ₱4,183

-32.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$330 ₱20.4K

51.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$184 ₱11.3K

44.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$814 ₱50.2K

106.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$370 ₱22.8K

71.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$1,654 ₱102.0K

164.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$1,457 ₱89.9K

74.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$216 ₱13.3K

122.90%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Davao: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Manila and $330 in Davao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 123% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $27.00 in Manila vs $24.00 in Davao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $192 per month, with Davao cheaper across the board.

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 Davao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Davao is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Manila pays 123% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Manila versus $330 in Davao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Davao – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $27.00 in Manila. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $959 per month in Manila versus $821 in Davao – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $821 in Davao versus $959 in Manila, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Davao but tight or insufficient in Manila. The gap between the two cities makes Davao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Davao is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Manila, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Manila and Davao are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Davao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.