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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $798 in Laoag City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,218 in Laoag City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,639 in Laoag City, rent included.

Manila costs about 20% more than Laoag City, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Manila and Laoag City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Laoag City 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$3.63 ₱224

48.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$14.98 ₱924

79.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.30 ₱203

31.52%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.48 ₱153

10.89%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.78 ₱48.40

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.40 ₱24.52

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.35 ₱83.2

10.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.14 ₱132

21.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.26 ₱77.6

9.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.99 ₱61.0

6.06%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.23 ₱137

-2.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$8.17 ₱504

17.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$7.50 ₱462

-30.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.81 ₱482

6.53%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.97 ₱183

17.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.58 ₱97.7

13.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.66 ₱164

34.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.57 ₱96.7

58.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.20 ₱135

25.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.59 ₱160

16.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.11 ₱68.5

81.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.77 ₱47.23

-16.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$3.10 ₱191

7.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$8.15 ₱503

19.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.00 ₱61.9

49.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$2.06 ₱127

4.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.26 ₱15.97

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.84 ₱51.6

2.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.26 ₱16.15

-3.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.07 ₱66.0

8.41%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$26.4K ₱1.6M

-0.83%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

10.65%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$114 ₱7,042

21.12%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$32.36 ₱1,996

-31.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$26.18 ₱1,615

5.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$15.18 ₱936

172.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.49 ₱277

53.45%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$6.06 ₱374

8.58%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$150 ₱9,247

137.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,236 ₱261.2K

170.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$45.02 ₱2,776

3.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$26.19 ₱1,615

34.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$76.2 ₱4,701

8.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$52.3 ₱3,224

-12.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$270 ₱16.7K

84.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$204 ₱12.6K

29.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$429 ₱26.5K

292.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$387 ₱23.9K

64.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,479 ₱152.9K

76.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$1,081 ₱66.6K

135.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$160 ₱9,882

200.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.67

12.74%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for Laoag City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $270 in Laoag City. 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 200% 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 $15.00 in Laoag City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $223 – making Laoag City 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 Laoag City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila costs about 20% more than Laoag City, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. 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 $1,197 in Laoag City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Laoag City, 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 $959 in Manila and $798 in Laoag City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $150 in Laoag City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Laoag City, where all-in costs run around $798, than in Manila at $959. In Laoag City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Laoag City costs $798 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 Laoag City. 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.