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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $967 per month in Manila vs $663 in Dipolog, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,531 per month in Manila vs $1,077 in Dipolog, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,095 per month in Manila vs $1,492 in Dipolog, rent included.

Manila costs about 46% more than Dipolog, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Dipolog are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Dipolog 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.24 ₱316

$1.27 ₱76.6

312.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 ₱1,582

$21.25 ₱1,279

23.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.41 ₱266

$3.46 ₱208

27.46%

Cappuccino

$2.66 ₱160

$1.97 ₱119

35.03%

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

$0.96 ₱57.8

$0.56 ₱33.98

71.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱31.92

$0.30 ₱17.79

76.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 ₱93.3

$0.93 ₱56.2

66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 ₱159

$1.73 ₱104

52.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱114

$1.87 ₱112

1.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱84.1

$1.21 ₱73.1

15.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 ₱62.8

$0.94 ₱56.3

10.64%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱129

$2.19 ₱132

-2.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱554

$6.00 ₱361

53.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.34 ₱321

$4.32 ₱260

23.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 ₱520

$6.94 ₱418

24.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱211

$3.59 ₱216

-2.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 ₱106

$1.14 ₱68.8

54.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱216

$3.27 ₱197

9.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₱147

$1.60 ₱96.0

52.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱169

$2.59 ₱156

8.49%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱190

$3.10 ₱187

1.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱121

$1.61 ₱96.9

24.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱38.73

$0.88 ₱52.9

-27.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱207

$3.13 ₱188

9.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.92 ₱597

$4.14 ₱249

139.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₱90.0

$1.33 ₱79.8

12.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 ₱134

$1.44 ₱86.5

54.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.11

$0.26 ₱15.57

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.75 ₱707

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱54.8

$0.74 ₱44.43

22.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱14.91

$0.23 ₱13.78

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱125

$2.65 ₱159

-21.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱69.7

$1.05 ₱63.1

10.48%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$24.1K ₱1.5M

11.32%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

18.65%

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

$136 ₱8,166

$65.9 ₱3,964

106.00%

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

$21.50 ₱1,294

$30.72 ₱1,849

-30.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.91 ₱1,679

$29.90 ₱1,800

-6.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.80 ₱2,515

$34.27 ₱2,062

21.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.87 ₱413

$4.48 ₱270

53.35%

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₱397

$4.31 ₱259

53.13%

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

$360 ₱21.7K

$35.02 ₱2,108

928.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ₱682.7K

$4,276 ₱257.3K

165.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 ₱2,785

$46.07 ₱2,772

0.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.85 ₱2,097

$22.69 ₱1,365

53.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.4 ₱5,019

$62.7 ₱3,770

33.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.07 ₱2,773

$26.86 ₱1,616

71.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 ₱29.3K

$261 ₱15.7K

86.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 ₱16.3K

$179 ₱10.8K

51.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,707 ₱102.7K

$586 ₱35.3K

191.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 ₱37.7K

$388 ₱23.4K

61.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,407 ₱265.2K

$2,429 ₱146.1K

81.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,637 ₱158.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$462 ₱27.8K

$246 ₱14.8K

87.92%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Dipolog: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Manila versus $261 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 88% 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 $26 in Manila versus $21 in Dipolog. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 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 46% 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 $1,450 per month in Manila and $994 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 $967 in Manila and $663 in Dipolog. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $360 per month in Manila and $35.02 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 $663, than in Manila at $967. 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 $663 versus $967 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.