Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Koronadal City Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Koronadal City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $968 in Manila versus $571 in Koronadal City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,526 in Manila versus $866 in Koronadal City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,085 in Manila versus $1,161 in Koronadal City.

Living in Manila is roughly 70% more expensive than in Koronadal City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 27% lower, Koronadal City 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manila
Koronadal City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.40 ₱332
$4.30 ₱264
25.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.20 ₱1,609
$14.20 ₱872
84.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.32 ₱265
$3.79 ₱233
13.98%
Cappuccino
$2.65 ₱163
$2.05 ₱126
29.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 ₱58.8
$0.46 ₱28.15
108.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ₱33.34
$0.34 ₱20.63
58.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.53 ₱93.7
$1.37 ₱84.0
11.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 ₱168
$1.81 ₱111
50.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manila
Koronadal City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 ₱117
$1.76 ₱108
7.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.33 ₱81.7
$0.72 ₱44.08
84.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.09 ₱66.8
$0.92 ₱56.7
18.48%
Eggs
$2.11 ₱129
$1.44 ₱88.4
46.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.09 ₱558
$6.01 ₱369
51.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.12 ₱314
$3.12 ₱192
64.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.32 ₱511
$5.56 ₱341
49.64%
Apples (1kg)
$3.48 ₱214
$2.71 ₱166
28.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 ₱113
$0.97 ₱59.4
88.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.65 ₱224
$1.59 ₱97.6
129.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.48 ₱152
$1.18 ₱72.6
110.17%
Potato (1kg)
$2.68 ₱164
$2.22 ₱136
20.72%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 ₱190
$3.10 ₱190
-0.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 ₱122
$1.07 ₱65.9
85.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₱42.86
$0.56 ₱34.42
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36 ₱206
$2.69 ₱165
24.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.94 ₱610
$7.65 ₱470
29.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 ₱88.9
$1.01 ₱62.3
43.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 ₱132
$1.57 ₱96.3
36.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Manila
Koronadal City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 ₱31.58
$0.30 ₱18.41
70.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.06 ₱741
$17.71 ₱1,087
-31.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 ₱53.3
$0.81 ₱49.81
7.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ₱16.71
$0.23 ₱14.00
17.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.09 ₱128
$2.07 ₱127
0.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ₱69.2
$1.10 ₱67.8
2.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K ₱1.6M
$22.0K ₱1.3M
20.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K ₱1.4M
$16.3K ₱998.4K
41.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manila
Koronadal City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 ₱8,343
$105 ₱6,448
29.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 ₱1,364
$26.77 ₱1,644
-17.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.60 ₱1,695
$36.47 ₱2,239
-24.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manila
Koronadal City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.74 ₱2,624
$24.84 ₱1,525
72.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.04 ₱432
$4.48 ₱275
57.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.67 ₱409
$3.13 ₱192
113.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manila
Koronadal City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$363 ₱22.3K
$120 ₱7,374
202.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K ₱696.9K
$4,282 ₱262.9K
165.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manila
Koronadal City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.97 ₱2,884
$13.25 ₱814
254.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.66 ₱2,128
$9.80 ₱602
253.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.1 ₱5,100
$54.2 ₱3,325
53.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.23 ₱2,838
$44.90 ₱2,757
2.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manila
Koronadal City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$488 ₱30.0K
$79.1 ₱4,859
516.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$263 ₱16.2K
$50.7 ₱3,113
418.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,705 ₱104.7K
$160 ₱9,852
962.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$627 ₱38.5K
$107 ₱6,569
486.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,414 ₱271.0K
$2,546 ₱156.3K
73.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,526 ₱155.1K
$992 ₱60.9K
154.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manila
Koronadal City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ₱30.2K
$131 ₱8,032
275.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.52
6.5
15.69%

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

Last update for Manila: July 25, 2026

Last update for Koronadal City: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $488 in Manila and $79.1 in Koronadal City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 276% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $26.00 in Manila vs $14.00 in Koronadal City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $164 per month, with Koronadal City cheaper across the board.

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 Koronadal City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Manila or Koronadal City?
Koronadal City wins on cost – living expenses run 70% lower than in Manila. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Koronadal City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Manila or in Koronadal City?
Average pay runs 276% higher in Manila, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Manila compared to Koronadal City?
Rent for a central apartment: $488 in Manila versus $79.1 in Koronadal City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Manila and in Koronadal City?
Dining out is cheaper in Koronadal City – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $26.00 in Manila. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Manila compared to Koronadal City?
All in, you'll spend $968 per month in Manila versus $571 in Koronadal City – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Manila or in Koronadal City?
At $571 in Koronadal City versus $968 in Manila, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Koronadal City but tight or insufficient in Manila. The gap between the two cities makes Koronadal City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Manila or Koronadal City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Koronadal City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $571 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Koronadal City hard to pass up.
How safe is Manila compared to Koronadal City?
Safety-wise, Manila and Koronadal City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Koronadal City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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