Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Iligan City Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Iligan City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $773 in Iligan City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,212 in Iligan City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,652 in Iligan City, rent included.

Manila costs about 24% more than Iligan City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Iligan City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Iligan City 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$3.63 ₱224

48.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$17.83 ₱1,099

50.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.33 ₱206

30.33%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.42 ₱149

13.64%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.82 ₱50.6

17.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.37 ₱22.52

35.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.30 ₱80.4

14.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.17 ₱134

20.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$2.29 ₱141

-17.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.26 ₱77.8

9.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.95 ₱58.8

10.53%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$1.99 ₱123

9.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$8.06 ₱497

19.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.78 ₱294

8.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.62 ₱470

9.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.84 ₱175

23.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.57 ₱97.1

14.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.61 ₱161

37.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.55 ₱95.8

60.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.30 ₱142

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.61 ₱161

16.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.07 ₱66.2

87.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.71 ₱43.75

-9.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.86 ₱176

16.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$7.81 ₱481

24.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.16 ₱71.6

28.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$2.06 ₱127

4.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.28 ₱17.30

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.82 ₱50.7

4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.24 ₱14.89

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.11 ₱130

2.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.15 ₱70.9

0.87%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$26.6K ₱1.6M

-1.40%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

11.33%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$111 ₱6,842

24.66%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$32.75 ₱2,020

-32.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$27.09 ₱1,670

2.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$34.33 ₱2,117

20.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.36 ₱269

58.03%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$5.91 ₱364

11.34%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$149 ₱9,166

140.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,288 ₱264.4K

167.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$45.70 ₱2,818

1.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$26.21 ₱1,616

33.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$75.2 ₱4,637

9.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$52.4 ₱3,228

-12.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$268 ₱16.5K

86.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$175 ₱10.8K

51.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$583 ₱36.0K

188.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$388 ₱23.9K

63.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,395 ₱147.7K

82.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$1,077 ₱66.4K

136.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$202 ₱12.4K

138.32%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Iligan City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $268 in Iligan City. 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 138% 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 $18.00 in Iligan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $211 – making Iligan City 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 Iligan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $959 in Manila, $773 in Iligan City – roughly 24% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $1,159 in Iligan City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila and $18.00 in Iligan City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Manila, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Iligan City, where all-in costs run around $773, than in Manila at $959. In Iligan City 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 $773 in Iligan City to $959 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 Iligan City. 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.