Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Legazpi Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Legazpi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $958 per month in Manila vs $765 in Legazpi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,515 per month in Manila vs $1,159 in Legazpi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,073 per month in Manila vs $1,552 in Legazpi, rent included.

Manila costs about 25% more than Legazpi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Legazpi are more affordable than the global median – Manila 29% lower, Legazpi 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 ₱331

$3.48 ₱211

56.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 ₱1,596

$24.29 ₱1,475

8.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱263

$3.16 ₱192

36.71%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ₱164

$2.17 ₱132

24.88%

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

$0.91 ₱55.0

$0.45 ₱27.50

102.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.33 ₱20.31

51.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 ₱91.0

$0.92 ₱56.2

63.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₱160

$3.53 ₱215

-25.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.72 ₱104

9.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱83.8

$1.32 ₱80.3

4.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.9

$1.00 ₱60.9

8.00%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱130

$2.16 ₱131

-0.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 ₱578

$12.56 ₱763

-24.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ₱324

$3.99 ₱242

33.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 ₱508

$7.12 ₱432

17.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱206

$2.85 ₱173

18.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$2.10 ₱128

-13.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱222

$3.53 ₱214

3.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱151

$1.72 ₱104

44.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱169

$2.64 ₱160

5.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₱185

$1.81 ₱110

68.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ₱124

$1.73 ₱105

17.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₱39.71

$0.93 ₱56.7

-30.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ₱208

$4.34 ₱263

-21.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱577

$8.17 ₱496

16.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.13 ₱68.5

27.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱130

$3.60 ₱219

-40.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.13

$0.22 ₱13.28

131.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 ₱719

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱55.5

$0.62 ₱37.52

46.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.18

$0.27 ₱16.40

-7.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱126

$2.71 ₱165

-23.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.3

$1.22 ₱74.1

-4.92%

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

$26.3K ₱1.6M

$26.1K ₱1.6M

0.61%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$20.0K ₱1.2M

11.66%

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

$136 ₱8,261

$150 ₱9,080

-9.03%

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

$22.24 ₱1,350

$23.58 ₱1,432

-5.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.14 ₱1,648

$35.61 ₱2,162

-23.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ₱2,559

$33.72 ₱2,048

25.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ₱418

$4.49 ₱273

53.23%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱400

$5.41 ₱329

21.63%

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

$362 ₱22.0K

$72.1 ₱4,375

401.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱681.7K

$4,378 ₱265.9K

156.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.99 ₱2,853

$45.40 ₱2,757

3.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 ₱2,148

$26.81 ₱1,628

31.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,001

$70.6 ₱4,288

16.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.51 ₱2,824

$70.7 ₱4,293

-34.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₱29.8K

$157 ₱9,557

212.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.3K

$106 ₱6,435

152.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 ₱104.8K

$379 ₱23.0K

355.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 ₱37.7K

$223 ₱13.5K

178.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,269 ₱259.2K

$2,540 ₱154.2K

68.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,574 ₱156.3K

$1,055 ₱64.1K

143.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$487 ₱29.5K

$273 ₱16.6K

78.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

10.12

-25.69%

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

Last update for Manila: June 7, 2026

Last update for Legazpi: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $491 in Manila versus $157 in Legazpi. 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 78% 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $24.00 in Legazpi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $230 – making Legazpi 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 Legazpi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $958 in Manila, $765 in Legazpi – roughly 25% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,437 per month in Manila and $1,148 in Legazpi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Legazpi, 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 $958 in Manila and $765 in Legazpi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $362 per month in Manila and $72.1 in Legazpi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Legazpi, where all-in costs run around $765, than in Manila at $958. In Legazpi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $765 in Legazpi to $958 in Manila. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Legazpi. 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.