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 $927 per month in Manila vs $736 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $1,116 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,497 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

Manila costs about 26% more than Island Garden City of Samal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Island Garden City of Samal are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Island Garden City of Samal 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱322

$1.22 ₱75.9

322.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,613

$17.03 ₱1,062

51.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱245

$3.91 ₱244

0.51%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱157

$2.15 ₱134

17.21%

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

$1.36 ₱84.6

$1.05 ₱65.5

29.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.8

$0.69 ₱43.08

20.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.4

$1.11 ₱69.3

1.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱171

$1.89 ₱118

44.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱118

$2.02 ₱126

-5.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.1

$1.14 ₱70.9

25.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.1

$0.89 ₱55.4

10.11%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱139

$1.88 ₱117

18.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱498

$6.79 ₱424

17.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱292

$4.25 ₱265

10.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱424

$8.59 ₱535

-20.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱207

$2.65 ₱165

25.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$1.08 ₱67.7

69.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱186

$2.20 ₱137

35.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.21 ₱75.4

53.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱141

$2.11 ₱131

7.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱168

$3.53 ₱220

-23.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$1.23 ₱76.8

70.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.65

$0.66 ₱41.09

-15.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱200

$2.42 ₱151

32.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱599

$7.85 ₱489

22.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.6

$1.26 ₱78.5

4.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$1.52 ₱94.8

38.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱28.89

$0.25 ₱15.52

84.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱791

$11.11 ₱693

14.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.81 ₱50.5

2.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.25 ₱15.61

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.90 ₱119

-2.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.1

$1.15 ₱71.9

7.83%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

-0.36%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$18.7K ₱1.2M

3.66%

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

$122 ₱7,607

$99.7 ₱6,220

22.31%

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

$14.83 ₱925

$18.97 ₱1,183

-21.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,494

$31.69 ₱1,976

-24.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,648

$32.00 ₱1,995

32.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱361

$4.72 ₱294

22.67%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱429

$4.75 ₱296

44.84%

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

$621 ₱38.7K

$110 ₱6,837

466.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱552.8K

$7,651 ₱477.1K

15.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,586

$31.80 ₱1,983

80.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,749

$19.32 ₱1,205

45.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,840

$70.8 ₱4,412

9.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,609

$61.0 ₱3,802

-5.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.3K

$272 ₱16.9K

96.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱17.9K

$175 ₱10.9K

64.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.2K

$503 ₱31.4K

283.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.4K

$348 ₱21.7K

90.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱271.6K

$2,590 ₱161.5K

68.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱159.3K

$1,047 ₱65.3K

143.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

8.31

-10.59%

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

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Last update for Island Garden City of Samal: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $272 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $17.00 in Island Garden City of Samal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $196 – 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 26% more than Island Garden City of Samal, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,391 per month in Manila and $1,103 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $927 in Manila and $736 in Island Garden City of Samal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 14% less in Island Garden City of Samal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Island Garden City of Samal, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Manila at $927. In Island Garden City of Samal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Island Garden City of Samal costs $736 versus $927 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.