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: $957 in Manila versus $835 in Davao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,538 in Manila versus $1,279 in Davao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,118 in Manila versus $1,722 in Davao.

Living in Manila is roughly 15% more expensive than in Davao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 28% lower, Davao 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$4.54 ₱279

16.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$23.96 ₱1,475

13.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$4.64 ₱286

-1.94%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$2.06 ₱127

32.52%

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

$0.96 ₱59.2

$0.87 ₱53.3

10.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.54 ₱32.95

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.41 ₱86.5

9.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$1.72 ₱106

54.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.68 ₱103

13.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$1.22 ₱75.0

9.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$0.96 ₱59.4

11.46%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$2.06 ₱127

0.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$6.20 ₱382

49.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$4.60 ₱283

13.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱526

$7.43 ₱457

15.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$2.88 ₱177

22.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.14 ₱70.4

57.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.41 ₱148

48.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.42 ₱87.3

76.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$2.22 ₱137

25.23%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$3.15 ₱194

0.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.31 ₱80.7

51.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.61 ₱37.28

11.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.71 ₱167

22.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$8.29 ₱510

14.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.41 ₱86.6

3.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.57 ₱96.4

34.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.22 ₱13.45

118.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

$14.45 ₱890

-15.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.90 ₱55.5

-2.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.25 ₱15.47

8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.10 ₱129

-0.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.09 ₱66.9

7.34%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$22.0K ₱1.4M

18.55%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

8.74%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$105 ₱6,463

29.00%

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

$21.56 ₱1,327

$33.78 ₱2,080

-36.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$35.75 ₱2,201

-22.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$41.25 ₱2,539

0.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.34 ₱267

57.14%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$4.40 ₱271

57.27%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$119 ₱7,315

205.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$7,829 ₱482.0K

48.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$65.6 ₱4,040

-28.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$29.82 ₱1,836

15.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$77.8 ₱4,792

5.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$69.4 ₱4,273

-31.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$321 ₱19.8K

51.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$183 ₱11.3K

48.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$816 ₱50.2K

111.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$361 ₱22.2K

77.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$1,621 ₱99.8K

167.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$1,447 ₱89.1K

79.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

$220 ₱13.5K

112.52%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Davao: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $486 in Manila and $321 in Davao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 113% 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 $241 vs $195 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 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 113% higher in Manila, 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: $486 in Manila versus $321 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 $957 per month in Manila versus $835 in Davao – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Davao gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 15% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.