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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $671 in Legazpi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,506 per month in Manila vs $1,011 in Legazpi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,052 per month in Manila vs $1,350 in Legazpi, rent included.

Manila costs about 43% more than Legazpi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Legazpi are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, Legazpi 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱341

$3.14 ₱197

72.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,664

$16.99 ₱1,066

56.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$2.86 ₱179

37.06%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱158

$2.04 ₱128

23.04%

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

$1.39 ₱87.0

$0.42 ₱26.20

230.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.33 ₱20.79

151.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.0

$1.05 ₱65.9

10.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$2.19 ₱137

25.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.54 ₱96.6

22.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.8

$1.18 ₱73.8

18.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱62.0

$0.83 ₱51.9

19.28%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$1.88 ₱118

22.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱490

$5.36 ₱336

45.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱309

$4.09 ₱256

20.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱446

$6.97 ₱437

2.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$2.31 ₱145

39.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.61 ₱101

17.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.37 ₱149

27.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱114

$1.17 ₱73.1

55.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$2.12 ₱133

4.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱165

$1.99 ₱125

31.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$0.81 ₱51.0

167.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.12

$0.53 ₱33.02

11.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱199

$2.80 ₱176

13.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱597

$7.73 ₱485

23.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.5

$1.05 ₱65.6

21.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$1.94 ₱121

4.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.25

$0.22 ₱13.82

113.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱806

$10.66 ₱669

20.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.26

$0.83 ₱51.8

-7.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.44

$0.25 ₱15.73

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.5

$1.06 ₱66.6

19.81%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

0.20%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$16.9K ₱1.1M

16.33%

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

$122 ₱7,639

$152 ₱9,531

-19.85%

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

$15.16 ₱951

$15.02 ₱942

0.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,505

$31.47 ₱1,974

-23.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,673

$31.94 ₱2,003

33.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱357

$5.40 ₱339

5.37%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱432

$5.11 ₱320

34.64%

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

$618 ₱38.8K

$134 ₱8,377

362.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱555.9K

$7,638 ₱479.1K

16.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,658

$31.93 ₱2,003

82.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,751

$19.39 ₱1,216

43.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,881

$63.4 ₱3,974

22.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,667

$56.3 ₱3,528

3.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.2K

$143 ₱8,984

280.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$95.4 ₱5,983

198.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$343 ₱21.5K

461.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.2K

$200 ₱12.6K

235.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱275.8K

$2,551 ₱160.0K

72.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.5K

$1,067 ₱66.9K

136.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

$268 ₱16.8K

77.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

10.12

-26.58%

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

Last update for Manila: September 12, 2026

Last update for Legazpi: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Manila versus $143 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 $27.00 in Manila versus $17.00 in Legazpi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $176 – 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: $959 in Manila, $671 in Legazpi – roughly 43% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,439 per month in Manila and $1,007 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 $959 in Manila and $671 in Legazpi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 21% less in Legazpi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Legazpi, where all-in costs run around $671, than in Manila at $959. 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 $671 in Legazpi to $959 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.