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 $957 per month in Manila vs $798 in Iligan City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,215 in Iligan City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $1,631 in Iligan City, rent included.

Manila costs about 20% 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 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$3.54 ₱218

49.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$17.48 ₱1,076

55.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$3.40 ₱209

33.82%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$2.37 ₱146

15.19%

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

$0.96 ₱59.2

$0.83 ₱50.9

15.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.39 ₱24.17

28.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.29 ₱79.4

19.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$2.14 ₱132

23.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$2.24 ₱138

-15.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$1.27 ₱78.4

4.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$1.01 ₱62.3

5.94%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$2.02 ₱124

2.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$8.18 ₱504

13.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$4.79 ₱295

8.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱526

$7.70 ₱474

11.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$2.98 ₱184

18.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.52 ₱93.5

18.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.71 ₱167

32.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.55 ₱95.3

61.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$2.29 ₱141

21.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$2.52 ₱155

25.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.06 ₱65.5

86.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.77 ₱47.17

-11.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.82 ₱174

17.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$7.98 ₱491

19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.16 ₱71.2

25.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.06 ₱127

2.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.26 ₱15.96

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.77 ₱47.25

14.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.22 ₱13.53

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.18 ₱134

-4.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.13 ₱69.8

3.54%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

-0.32%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

9.85%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$114 ₱7,021

18.75%

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

$21.56 ₱1,327

$33.09 ₱2,037

-34.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$27.79 ₱1,711

-0.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$34.06 ₱2,097

21.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.47 ₱275

52.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$5.92 ₱365

16.89%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$152 ₱9,357

138.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$4,350 ₱267.8K

166.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$44.89 ₱2,764

4.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$26.15 ₱1,610

31.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$75.6 ₱4,656

8.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$53.0 ₱3,263

-10.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$268 ₱16.5K

81.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$175 ₱10.8K

54.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$581 ₱35.7K

197.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$389 ₱24.0K

64.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$2,656 ₱163.5K

63.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$1,087 ₱66.9K

139.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

$198 ₱12.2K

135.38%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Iligan City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 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 135% 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 $17.00 in Iligan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $213 – 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: $957 in Manila, $798 in Iligan City – roughly 20% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,197 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 $17.00 in Iligan City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Manila, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Manila and $798 in Iligan City, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $798 in Iligan City to $957 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.