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 $959 per month in Manila vs $732 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,109 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,486 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

$5.38 ₱332

$1.37 ₱84.4

292.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$12.16 ₱750

120.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$4.52 ₱279

-3.98%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.11 ₱130

30.33%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.87 ₱54.0

10.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.53 ₱32.40

-5.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.41 ₱86.9

5.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.73 ₱107

50.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.27 ₱78.6

48.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$0.57 ₱34.87

142.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.73 ₱45.13

43.84%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$1.99 ₱123

9.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$6.10 ₱376

57.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$3.21 ₱198

61.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$5.06 ₱312

64.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.96 ₱182

18.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.14 ₱70.5

57.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.37 ₱146

51.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.28 ₱78.7

94.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.26 ₱139

22.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$1.59 ₱97.9

90.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$0.93 ₱57.2

116.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.46 ₱28.38

39.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.62 ₱162

26.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$7.93 ₱489

22.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.30 ₱79.9

14.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.23 ₱75.7

74.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.26 ₱15.98

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.68 ₱41.77

26.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.10 ₱6.28

150.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.18 ₱135

-0.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.14 ₱70.4

1.75%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$21.8K ₱1.3M

20.46%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

9.08%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$101 ₱6,243

36.61%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$34.30 ₱2,115

-35.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$36.07 ₱2,224

-23.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$33.73 ₱2,080

22.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.48 ₱276

53.79%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$4.31 ₱265

52.67%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$120 ₱7,375

198.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,290 ₱264.5K

167.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$46.00 ₱2,836

0.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$30.70 ₱1,893

14.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$78.6 ₱4,845

4.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$68.9 ₱4,246

-33.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$264 ₱16.3K

89.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$173 ₱10.7K

52.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$591 ₱36.4K

185.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$398 ₱24.5K

59.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,454 ₱151.3K

78.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$838 ₱51.7K

203.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Island Garden City of Samal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $264 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 $12.00 in Island Garden City of Samal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $160 – 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 $1,438 per month in Manila and $1,098 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 $12.00 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 51% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Island Garden City of Samal, where all-in costs run around $732, than in Manila at $959. 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 $732 versus $959 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.