Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Dipolog Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Dipolog

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $664 in Dipolog, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,089 in Dipolog, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,513 in Dipolog, rent included.

Manila costs about 44% more than Dipolog, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Dipolog are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Dipolog 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$1.28 ₱78.8

320.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,656

$20.86 ₱1,288

28.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱268

$3.58 ₱221

21.23%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$1.97 ₱122

39.59%

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

$0.96 ₱59.0

$0.54 ₱33.21

77.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.59

$0.29 ₱18.20

72.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$0.96 ₱59.0

55.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.73 ₱107

50.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱117

$1.85 ₱114

2.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.4

$1.21 ₱74.7

14.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.94 ₱57.7

11.70%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.29 ₱141

-4.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$5.94 ₱366

61.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.18 ₱258

24.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$6.78 ₱418

22.71%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$3.58 ₱221

-2.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.18 ₱73.1

52.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$3.25 ₱201

10.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.56 ₱96.5

59.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱171

$2.67 ₱165

3.37%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$3.05 ₱188

-0.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.69 ₱104

18.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.61

$0.90 ₱55.8

-28.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$3.21 ₱198

3.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$4.16 ₱257

134.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.32 ₱81.7

12.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.40 ₱86.5

53.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.94

$0.26 ₱15.98

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱741

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.69 ₱42.46

24.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.38

$0.25 ₱15.45

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.58 ₱159

-16.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.9

$1.04 ₱64.1

11.54%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$24.2K ₱1.5M

8.25%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

17.23%

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

$138 ₱8,537

$64.9 ₱4,006

113.10%

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

$22.24 ₱1,373

$30.64 ₱1,891

-27.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,710

$29.60 ₱1,827

-6.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,556

$33.60 ₱2,074

23.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱426

$4.31 ₱266

59.86%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$4.53 ₱280

45.25%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$35.96 ₱2,220

892.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱708.0K

$4,368 ₱269.6K

162.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,865

$45.93 ₱2,835

1.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,168

$22.93 ₱1,416

53.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,086

$60.9 ₱3,760

35.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,825

$26.77 ₱1,652

71.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$263 ₱16.2K

89.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$174 ₱10.7K

52.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.9K

$591 ₱36.5K

184.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$399 ₱24.6K

59.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.7K

$2,123 ₱131.1K

105.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱157.0K

$977 ₱60.3K

160.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$241 ₱14.9K

99.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

-6.00%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for Dipolog: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $263 in Dipolog. 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 99% 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 $21.00 in Dipolog. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $198 – making Dipolog 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 Dipolog: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila costs about 44% more than Dipolog, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $996 in Dipolog. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $959 in Manila and $664 in Dipolog. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $35.96 in Dipolog. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dipolog, where all-in costs run around $664, than in Manila at $959. In Dipolog it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dipolog costs $664 versus $959 in Manila. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Dipolog. 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.