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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $766 in Legazpi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,183 in Legazpi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,601 in Legazpi, rent included.

Manila costs about 26% more than Legazpi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Legazpi are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Legazpi 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$3.53 ₱218

52.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$24.01 ₱1,481

11.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.04 ₱187

49.34%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$2.20 ₱136

19.09%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.42 ₱25.83

133.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.33 ₱20.52

63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$0.95 ₱58.7

55.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$3.58 ₱221

-23.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$1.73 ₱107

13.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.32 ₱81.2

6.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$0.99 ₱60.9

4.04%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.18 ₱134

-5.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$12.42 ₱766

-26.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$3.93 ₱243

32.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$7.29 ₱450

19.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$2.96 ₱182

14.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.08 ₱128

-12.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$3.45 ₱213

6.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.73 ₱106

45.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$2.71 ₱167

3.69%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$1.80 ₱111

71.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$1.74 ₱107

14.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.85 ₱52.4

-18.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$4.47 ₱276

-23.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$8.09 ₱499

23.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.18 ₱72.8

26.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$3.45 ₱213

-36.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.22 ₱13.50

118.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.67 ₱41.43

38.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.27 ₱16.69

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.67 ₱165

-19.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.24 ₱76.3

-9.68%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$26.1K ₱1.6M

1.65%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

10.92%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$149 ₱9,166

-9.39%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$24.09 ₱1,486

-8.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$35.27 ₱2,175

-20.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$33.30 ₱2,054

26.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$4.46 ₱275

56.95%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$5.26 ₱325

27.95%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$71.4 ₱4,404

411.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$4,398 ₱271.3K

162.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$45.64 ₱2,815

2.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$26.76 ₱1,650

30.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$72.1 ₱4,446

13.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$72.1 ₱4,445

-36.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$162 ₱9,977

202.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$108 ₱6,632

150.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$379 ₱23.4K

345.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$224 ₱13.8K

180.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

$2,297 ₱141.7K

88.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$278 ₱17.2K

62.46%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Legazpi: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $162 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 62% 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 $24.00 in Legazpi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 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: $963 in Manila, $766 in Legazpi – roughly 26% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $1,149 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 $963 in Manila and $766 in Legazpi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $365 per month in Manila and $71.4 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 $766, than in Manila at $963. 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 $766 in Legazpi to $963 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.