Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and El Nido Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and El Nido

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $953 per month in Manila vs $734 in El Nido, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,548 per month in Manila vs $1,159 in El Nido, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Manila vs $1,585 in El Nido, rent included.

Manila costs about 30% more than El Nido, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and El Nido are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, El Nido 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.61 ₱346

$4.72 ₱291

18.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.02 ₱1,604

$30.85 ₱1,902

-15.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.09 ₱252

$3.80 ₱234

7.63%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱155

$2.27 ₱140

11.01%

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

$1.46 ₱90.2

$1.24 ₱76.5

17.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.32 ₱19.92

153.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ₱73.6

$1.05 ₱64.9

13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$1.54 ₱94.8

77.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.85 ₱114

8.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱93.3

$1.14 ₱70.4

32.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 ₱64.2

$1.36 ₱83.8

-23.53%

Eggs

$2.30 ₱142

$1.91 ₱118

20.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.00 ₱493

$4.72 ₱291

69.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.92 ₱303

$3.90 ₱240

26.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.89 ₱425

$7.40 ₱456

-6.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 ₱212

$2.36 ₱145

45.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$1.54 ₱94.7

18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.14 ₱194

$2.09 ₱129

50.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.19 ₱73.3

52.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.08 ₱128

10.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 ₱165

$1.95 ₱120

37.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 ₱126

$0.74 ₱45.31

177.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₱36.86

$0.56 ₱34.72

7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.09 ₱191

$3.16 ₱195

-2.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.87 ₱609

$9.16 ₱564

7.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱83.0

$1.04 ₱64.3

29.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 ₱131

$2.26 ₱139

-5.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.48

$0.25 ₱15.49

92.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.82 ₱790

$11.27 ₱695

13.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₱52.3

$0.71 ₱43.69

19.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.82

$0.27 ₱16.93

-11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 ₱119

$1.84 ₱114

4.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ₱78.9

$1.34 ₱82.5

-4.48%

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

$21.7K ₱1.3M

$24.0K ₱1.5M

-9.51%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$20.0K ₱1.2M

1.82%

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

$122 ₱7,536

$123 ₱7,578

-0.55%

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

$15.72 ₱969

$14.36 ₱885

9.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.31 ₱1,498

$24.59 ₱1,516

-1.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.75 ₱2,759

$35.03 ₱2,160

27.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.03 ₱372

$4.88 ₱301

23.57%

Cinema Ticket

$7.40 ₱456

$6.05 ₱373

22.31%

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

$573 ₱35.3K

$146 ₱9,018

291.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,198 ₱567.0K

$8,573 ₱528.5K

7.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 ₱3,643

$33.75 ₱2,081

75.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.46 ₱1,754

$20.72 ₱1,278

37.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.4 ₱4,834

$70.8 ₱4,367

10.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.2 ₱3,649

$54.5 ₱3,362

8.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$546 ₱33.6K

$276 ₱17.0K

97.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 ₱18.0K

$197 ₱12.1K

48.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 ₱120.1K

$495 ₱30.5K

293.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 ₱41.6K

$400 ₱24.7K

68.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,284 ₱264.1K

$2,382 ₱146.9K

79.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,542 ₱156.7K

$1,017 ₱62.7K

149.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$469 ₱28.9K

$257 ₱15.8K

82.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.75

10.07%

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

Last update for Manila: August 17, 2026

Last update for El Nido: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $546 in Manila versus $276 in El Nido. 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 83% 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 $31.00 in El Nido. Groceries tell a different story – $226 in Manila vs $182 in El Nido – so El Nido wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 El Nido: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $953 in Manila, $734 in El Nido – roughly 30% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,430 per month in Manila and $1,101 in El Nido. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 14% less in El Nido. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $573 per month in Manila and $146 in El Nido. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in El Nido, where all-in costs run around $734, than in Manila at $953. In El Nido it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $734 in El Nido to $953 in Manila. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 El Nido. 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.