Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Iloilo Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Iloilo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $682 in Iloilo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,034 in Iloilo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,386 in Iloilo, rent included.

Manila costs about 41% more than Iloilo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Iloilo are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Iloilo 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$2.59 ₱160

107.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$21.53 ₱1,328

24.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.60 ₱222

20.56%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$1.96 ₱121

40.31%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.57 ₱35.19

68.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.30 ₱18.37

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$0.95 ₱58.7

56.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.79 ₱110

45.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.81 ₱112

4.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.26 ₱77.6

9.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.93 ₱57.3

12.90%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.27 ₱140

-3.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$5.81 ₱358

65.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.35 ₱268

19.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.12 ₱439

16.85%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$3.70 ₱228

-5.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.14 ₱70.2

57.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$3.26 ₱201

9.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.56 ₱96.4

59.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.59 ₱160

6.56%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$3.04 ₱187

-0.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.68 ₱104

19.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.90 ₱55.6

-28.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$3.11 ₱192

6.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$5.51 ₱340

76.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.28 ₱78.9

16.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.44 ₱88.5

49.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.25 ₱15.50

108.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

$5.27 ₱325

127.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.68 ₱41.68

26.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.31 ₱19.39

-19.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.70 ₱167

-20.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.10 ₱67.6

5.45%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$24.0K ₱1.5M

8.96%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$19.5K ₱1.2M

16.63%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$66.0 ₱4,070

109.58%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$31.13 ₱1,919

-28.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$30.21 ₱1,863

-8.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$27.72 ₱1,709

49.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$5.45 ₱336

20.73%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$35.18 ₱2,169

914.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,364 ₱269.1K

162.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$44.89 ₱2,768

3.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$22.74 ₱1,402

54.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$61.3 ₱3,777

34.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$26.86 ₱1,656

70.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$237 ₱14.6K

110.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$179 ₱11.0K

48.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$357 ₱22.0K

371.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$285 ₱17.6K

122.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$3,776 ₱232.9K

15.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$1,049 ₱64.7K

142.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$222 ₱13.7K

117.12%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Iloilo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $237 in Iloilo. 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 117% 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 $22.00 in Iloilo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $202 – making Iloilo 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 Iloilo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manila is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $1,023 in Iloilo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Iloilo, 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 $22.00 in Iloilo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $959 in Manila and $682 in Iloilo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iloilo, where all-in costs run around $682, than in Manila at $959. In Iloilo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Iloilo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Iloilo. 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.