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 $744 in Laoag City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,506 per month in Manila vs $1,103 in Laoag City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,052 per month in Manila vs $1,463 in Laoag City, rent included.

Manila costs about 29% more than Laoag City, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Manila and Laoag City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, Laoag City 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱340

$3.71 ₱233

46.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,663

$13.59 ₱851

95.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$2.87 ₱180

36.59%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱157

$2.30 ₱144

9.13%

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

$1.39 ₱86.9

$0.59 ₱36.78

135.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.31 ₱19.36

167.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.0

$1.13 ₱70.9

2.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.83 ₱115

49.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.59 ₱99.8

18.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.7

$1.11 ₱69.6

26.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱61.9

$0.98 ₱61.3

1.02%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$2.09 ₱131

10.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱489

$6.03 ₱378

29.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱309

$6.95 ₱436

-29.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱446

$6.88 ₱431

3.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$2.27 ₱142

42.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.63 ₱102

15.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.41 ₱151

24.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱114

$1.12 ₱70.0

62.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$2.01 ₱126

10.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱164

$1.87 ₱117

40.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$0.82 ₱51.2

164.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.08

$0.51 ₱32.24

15.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱199

$2.78 ₱174

14.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱597

$7.92 ₱496

20.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.4

$0.92 ₱57.7

39.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$1.93 ₱121

4.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.22

$0.25 ₱15.74

88.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱805

$10.40 ₱652

23.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.21

$0.82 ₱51.5

-6.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.22 ₱13.70

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

$1.88 ₱118

4.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.5

$0.96 ₱60.2

32.29%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

0.05%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

0.53%

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

$122 ₱7,632

$124 ₱7,749

-1.50%

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

$15.16 ₱950

$15.64 ₱980

-3.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,504

$24.22 ₱1,518

-0.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,670

$13.61 ₱853

213.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱357

$4.23 ₱265

34.52%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱431

$5.10 ₱319

34.90%

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

$618 ₱38.7K

$134 ₱8,400

361.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱555.4K

$8,856 ₱555.0K

0.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,655

$32.02 ₱2,006

82.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,749

$19.82 ₱1,242

40.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,877

$72.4 ₱4,534

7.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,664

$56.6 ₱3,547

3.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.1K

$263 ₱16.5K

106.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$182 ₱11.4K

56.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.8K

$375 ₱23.5K

413.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.2K

$352 ₱22.1K

91.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱275.5K

$2,614 ₱163.8K

68.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.4K

$898 ₱56.3K

181.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

$158 ₱9,925

200.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.75

10.07%

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

Last update for Manila: September 12, 2026

Last update for Laoag City: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Manila versus $263 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 201% 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 $14.00 in Laoag City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $193 – 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 29% 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 $1,439 per month in Manila and $1,116 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 $744 in Laoag City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 24% less in Laoag City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Laoag City, where all-in costs run around $744, 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 $744 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.