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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $984 per month in Manila vs $686 in Dipolog, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,549 per month in Manila vs $1,103 in Dipolog, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,114 per month in Manila vs $1,521 in Dipolog, rent included.

Manila costs about 43% more than Dipolog, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Dipolog are more affordable than the global median – Manila 26% lower, Dipolog 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.24 ₱323

$1.27 ₱78.3

312.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.22 ₱1,618

$21.68 ₱1,337

20.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.53 ₱218

28.61%

Cappuccino

$2.63 ₱162

$1.96 ₱121

34.18%

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

$0.95 ₱58.7

$0.53 ₱32.93

79.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱31.10

$0.30 ₱18.33

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱94.1

$1.02 ₱62.8

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 ₱167

$1.72 ₱106

56.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱118

$1.78 ₱110

7.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 ₱83.1

$1.26 ₱77.5

7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.3

$0.95 ₱58.7

12.63%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱132

$2.19 ₱135

-2.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 ₱575

$6.03 ₱372

54.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.17 ₱319

$4.15 ₱256

24.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.63 ₱532

$7.03 ₱433

22.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.51 ₱217

$3.71 ₱229

-5.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱111

$1.18 ₱72.9

51.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.60 ₱222

$3.26 ₱201

10.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.42 ₱149

$1.53 ₱94.6

58.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 ₱166

$2.65 ₱164

1.51%

Onion (1kg)

$3.12 ₱193

$3.09 ₱191

0.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 ₱120

$1.67 ₱103

16.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.19

$0.91 ₱56.2

-25.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.45 ₱213

$3.25 ₱201

6.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.69 ₱598

$4.10 ₱253

136.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.29 ₱79.3

13.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.38 ₱85.2

58.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 ₱30.02

$0.28 ₱17.28

75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.09 ₱746

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.7

$0.72 ₱44.54

29.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.73

$0.25 ₱15.43

8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.72 ₱168

-23.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.5

$1.09 ₱67.1

1.83%

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

$26.7K ₱1.6M

$24.1K ₱1.5M

10.76%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$19.9K ₱1.2M

12.44%

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

$135 ₱8,360

$65.2 ₱4,022

107.84%

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

$22.05 ₱1,360

$31.73 ₱1,958

-30.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.64 ₱1,706

$29.61 ₱1,827

-6.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.18 ₱2,603

$34.40 ₱2,122

22.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.78 ₱418

$4.38 ₱270

54.79%

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₱414

$4.49 ₱277

49.67%

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

$359 ₱22.1K

$36.09 ₱2,226

893.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ₱694.1K

$4,397 ₱271.3K

155.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.36 ₱2,922

$45.20 ₱2,789

4.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.35 ₱2,119

$23.29 ₱1,437

47.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,084

$61.1 ₱3,770

34.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.84 ₱2,890

$26.60 ₱1,641

76.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 ₱30.7K

$267 ₱16.4K

86.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$178 ₱11.0K

51.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,682 ₱103.8K

$597 ₱36.9K

181.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.3K

$397 ₱24.5K

60.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,330 ₱267.2K

$2,542 ₱156.8K

70.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,541 ₱156.8K

$861 ₱53.1K

195.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.2K

$246 ₱15.2K

92.59%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Dipolog: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $497 in Manila versus $267 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 93% 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $22.00 in Dipolog. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 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 43% 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 $1,476 per month in Manila and $1,029 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 $984 in Manila and $686 in Dipolog. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $359 per month in Manila and $36.09 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 $686, than in Manila at $984. 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 $686 versus $984 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.