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 $958 per month in Manila vs $812 in El Nido, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,515 per month in Manila vs $1,306 in El Nido, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,073 per month in Manila vs $1,800 in El Nido, rent included.

Manila costs about 18% more than El Nido, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and El Nido are more affordable than the global median – Manila 29% lower, El Nido 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 ₱331

$5.35 ₱325

1.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 ₱1,596

$30.59 ₱1,857

-14.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱263

$4.30 ₱261

0.47%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ₱164

$3.81 ₱232

-28.87%

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

$0.91 ₱55.0

$1.36 ₱82.8

-33.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.36 ₱21.99

38.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 ₱91.0

$1.31 ₱79.4

14.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₱160

$2.10 ₱127

25.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.90 ₱115

-0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱83.8

$1.27 ₱77.4

8.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.9

$1.75 ₱106

-38.29%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱130

$2.51 ₱152

-14.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 ₱578

$7.80 ₱474

22.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ₱324

$3.28 ₱199

62.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 ₱508

$8.18 ₱496

2.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱206

$2.96 ₱180

14.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$0.73 ₱44.05

149.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱222

$2.62 ₱159

39.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱151

$2.15 ₱131

15.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱169

$2.32 ₱141

19.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₱185

$2.17 ₱132

40.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ₱124

$1.08 ₱65.3

88.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₱39.71

$0.75 ₱45.64

-13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ₱208

$2.76 ₱167

23.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱577

$6.99 ₱425

35.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.16 ₱70.7

24.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱130

$2.07 ₱126

3.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.13

$0.36 ₱22.01

41.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 ₱719

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱55.5

$0.76 ₱46.17

19.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.18

$0.22 ₱13.35

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱126

$2.17 ₱132

-4.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.3

$1.03 ₱62.6

12.62%

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

$26.3K ₱1.6M

$26.7K ₱1.6M

-1.60%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

10.54%

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

$136 ₱8,261

$111 ₱6,746

22.46%

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

$22.24 ₱1,350

$33.00 ₱2,004

-32.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.14 ₱1,648

$31.50 ₱1,913

-13.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ₱2,559

$34.32 ₱2,084

22.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ₱418

$4.39 ₱266

56.72%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱400

$5.84 ₱354

12.67%

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

$362 ₱22.0K

$153 ₱9,312

135.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱681.7K

$4,346 ₱263.9K

158.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.99 ₱2,853

$45.44 ₱2,759

3.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 ₱2,148

$26.24 ₱1,594

34.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,001

$75.7 ₱4,594

8.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.51 ₱2,824

$52.3 ₱3,177

-11.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₱29.8K

$271 ₱16.5K

81.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.3K

$176 ₱10.7K

51.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 ₱104.8K

$595 ₱36.1K

189.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 ₱37.7K

$395 ₱24.0K

57.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,269 ₱259.2K

$2,712 ₱164.7K

57.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,574 ₱156.3K

$1,145 ₱69.5K

124.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$487 ₱29.5K

$259 ₱15.7K

87.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.67

12.74%

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

Last update for Manila: June 7, 2026

Last update for El Nido: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $491 in Manila versus $271 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 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $31.00 in El Nido. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Manila vs $202 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: $958 in Manila, $812 in El Nido – roughly 18% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,437 per month in Manila and $1,218 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $958 in Manila and $812 in El Nido. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $362 per month in Manila and $153 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 $812, than in Manila at $958. 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 $812 in El Nido to $958 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.