Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Island Garden City of Samal Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Island Garden City of Samal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $730 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,092 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $1,455 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

Manila costs about 31% more than Island Garden City of Samal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Island Garden City of Samal are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Island Garden City of Samal 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$1.30 ₱79.9

306.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$12.51 ₱770

116.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$4.56 ₱281

-0.22%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$2.11 ₱130

29.38%

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

$0.96 ₱59.3

$0.80 ₱49.25

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.53 ₱32.70

-5.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.38 ₱85.0

11.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$1.72 ₱106

54.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.27 ₱77.9

49.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$0.60 ₱37.14

121.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$0.74 ₱45.48

44.59%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$2.02 ₱124

2.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$6.02 ₱371

54.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$3.26 ₱201

59.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱527

$5.20 ₱320

64.42%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$3.01 ₱185

17.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.15 ₱70.5

56.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.36 ₱145

51.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.22 ₱75.4

104.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$2.26 ₱139

23.01%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$1.58 ₱97.2

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$0.92 ₱56.5

115.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.47 ₱28.88

44.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.71 ₱167

22.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$7.96 ₱490

19.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.26 ₱77.5

15.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.26 ₱77.7

67.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.28 ₱17.34

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.69 ₱42.69

27.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.08 ₱4.71

237.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.12 ₱130

-1.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.15 ₱70.7

1.74%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$22.0K ₱1.4M

18.26%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

9.52%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$98.9 ₱6,091

36.87%

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

$21.56 ₱1,328

$33.26 ₱2,048

-35.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$35.67 ₱2,196

-22.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$34.59 ₱2,129

19.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.44 ₱273

53.60%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$4.54 ₱279

52.42%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$118 ₱7,244

208.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$4,242 ₱261.2K

173.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$45.91 ₱2,826

2.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$30.60 ₱1,884

12.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$77.9 ₱4,798

5.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$67.7 ₱4,169

-29.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$265 ₱16.3K

83.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$174 ₱10.7K

55.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$593 ₱36.5K

191.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$399 ₱24.6K

60.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$2,261 ₱139.2K

91.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$933 ₱57.4K

179.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

9.56

-21.34%

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

Last update for Manila: July 11, 2026

Last update for Island Garden City of Samal: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Manila versus $265 in Island Garden City of Samal. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $13.00 in Island Garden City of Samal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $161 – making Island Garden City of Samal 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 Island Garden City of Samal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila costs about 31% more than Island Garden City of Samal, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,094 in Island Garden City of Samal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Island Garden City of Samal, 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 $13.00 in Island Garden City of Samal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% more in Manila, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Manila and $730 in Island Garden City of Samal, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Island Garden City of Samal costs $730 versus $957 in Manila. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Island Garden City of Samal. 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.