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: $934 in Manila versus $805 in Davao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,491 in Manila versus $1,239 in Davao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,048 in Manila versus $1,672 in Davao.

Living in Manila is roughly 16% more expensive than in Davao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 32% lower, Davao 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.70 ₱357

$4.95 ₱310

15.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.88 ₱1,620

$26.82 ₱1,680

-3.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 ₱257

$3.98 ₱249

3.27%

Cappuccino

$2.49 ₱156

$2.71 ₱170

-8.12%

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

$1.37 ₱85.6

$1.10 ₱68.9

24.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₱52.5

$0.69 ₱43.37

21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₱71.7

$1.63 ₱102

-30.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 ₱167

$2.34 ₱146

14.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.94 ₱121

-2.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ₱91.4

$1.10 ₱68.7

32.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱61.8

$0.91 ₱57.1

8.79%

Eggs

$2.32 ₱145

$1.93 ₱121

20.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 ₱492

$6.91 ₱433

13.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 ₱311

$4.24 ₱266

16.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.07 ₱443

$8.40 ₱526

-15.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱212

$2.67 ₱167

26.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 ₱121

$1.07 ₱67.0

80.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱188

$2.28 ₱143

32.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 ₱112

$1.16 ₱72.7

53.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 ₱140

$2.11 ₱132

6.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 ₱162

$3.54 ₱222

-26.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 ₱133

$1.19 ₱74.5

78.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.95

$0.66 ₱41.13

-15.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 ₱190

$2.42 ₱152

25.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 ₱616

$7.93 ₱497

24.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.1

$1.24 ₱77.7

3.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱132

$1.58 ₱98.7

33.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.27

$0.33 ₱20.59

42.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.73 ₱797

$13.43 ₱841

-5.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.2

$0.83 ₱51.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.44

$0.23 ₱14.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 ₱124

$1.90 ₱119

4.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.5

$1.16 ₱72.4

6.90%

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

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

2.61%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

2.32%

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

$121 ₱7,608

$106 ₱6,654

14.34%

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

$15.06 ₱943

$18.90 ₱1,183

-20.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.90 ₱1,497

$30.97 ₱1,939

-22.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.84 ₱2,745

$35.64 ₱2,232

23.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.97 ₱374

$3.63 ₱227

64.46%

Cinema Ticket

$7.03 ₱440

$4.94 ₱309

42.31%

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

$629 ₱39.4K

$107 ₱6,685

489.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,036 ₱565.8K

$7,664 ₱479.9K

17.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 ₱3,704

$62.3 ₱3,901

-5.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.07 ₱1,758

$26.84 ₱1,681

4.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 ₱4,731

$71.2 ₱4,458

6.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,625

$61.9 ₱3,873

-6.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$537 ₱33.6K

$282 ₱17.6K

90.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 ₱17.7K

$169 ₱10.6K

66.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,898 ₱118.8K

$631 ₱39.5K

200.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$671 ₱42.0K

$327 ₱20.5K

105.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,351 ₱272.5K

$1,618 ₱101.3K

168.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,494 ₱156.2K

$1,423 ₱89.1K

75.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$484 ₱30.3K

$210 ₱13.1K

130.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

8.31

-10.59%

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

Last update for Manila: August 31, 2026

Last update for Davao: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $537 in Manila and $282 in Davao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 131% 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: $26.00 in Manila vs $27.00 in Davao. Groceries flip the comparison at $223 vs $195, with Davao cheaper for home cooking.

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 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 131% 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: $537 in Manila versus $282 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 $27.00 versus $26.00 in Manila. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $934 per month in Manila versus $805 in Davao – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $805 in Davao versus $934 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 16% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.