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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $934 per month in Manila vs $730 in Ligao City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,491 per month in Manila vs $1,098 in Ligao City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,048 per month in Manila vs $1,465 in Ligao City, rent included.

Manila costs about 28% more than Ligao City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Ligao City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 32% lower, Ligao City 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.70 ₱356

$3.95 ₱247

44.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.88 ₱1,618

$17.11 ₱1,070

51.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 ₱257

$2.75 ₱172

49.45%

Cappuccino

$2.49 ₱155

$2.15 ₱135

15.81%

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

$1.37 ₱85.5

$0.63 ₱39.16

117.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₱52.4

$0.34 ₱21.32

147.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₱71.6

$1.09 ₱67.9

4.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 ₱167

$1.90 ₱119

40.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.62 ₱101

16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ₱91.3

$1.12 ₱69.9

30.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱61.7

$0.92 ₱57.6

7.61%

Eggs

$2.32 ₱145

$1.89 ₱118

22.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 ₱491

$5.25 ₱328

49.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 ₱310

$4.25 ₱266

16.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.07 ₱442

$6.93 ₱433

2.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱212

$2.28 ₱143

48.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 ₱121

$1.59 ₱99.5

21.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱188

$2.41 ₱151

24.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 ₱111

$1.17 ₱73.4

52.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 ₱140

$2.10 ₱131

6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 ₱162

$2.04 ₱127

26.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 ₱133

$0.82 ₱51.4

158.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.90

$0.56 ₱35.00

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 ₱190

$2.80 ₱175

8.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 ₱616

$8.07 ₱505

21.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.0

$0.93 ₱58.4

37.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱132

$1.95 ₱122

8.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.23

$0.23 ₱14.61

104.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.73 ₱796

$10.04 ₱628

26.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.80 ₱49.75

3.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.42

$0.23 ₱14.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 ₱124

$1.87 ₱117

5.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.4

$1.12 ₱70.3

10.71%

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

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$23.4K ₱1.5M

-7.17%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$18.0K ₱1.1M

9.64%

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

$121 ₱7,597

$122 ₱7,615

-0.24%

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

$15.06 ₱942

$16.63 ₱1,040

-9.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.90 ₱1,495

$24.57 ₱1,536

-2.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.84 ₱2,741

$31.71 ₱1,983

38.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.97 ₱374

$4.92 ₱307

21.34%

Cinema Ticket

$7.03 ₱440

$5.24 ₱328

34.16%

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

$629 ₱39.3K

$135 ₱8,438

366.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,036 ₱565.0K

$8,059 ₱503.9K

12.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 ₱3,698

$32.61 ₱2,039

81.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.07 ₱1,756

$19.35 ₱1,210

45.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 ₱4,724

$71.7 ₱4,481

5.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,620

$56.8 ₱3,553

1.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$537 ₱33.6K

$269 ₱16.8K

99.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 ₱17.7K

$170 ₱10.6K

66.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,898 ₱118.7K

$501 ₱31.3K

278.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$671 ₱41.9K

$346 ₱21.6K

93.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,351 ₱272.1K

$2,586 ₱161.7K

68.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,494 ₱156.0K

$1,026 ₱64.1K

143.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$484 ₱30.2K

$274 ₱17.1K

76.76%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ligao City: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $537 in Manila versus $269 in Ligao 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 77% 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 $17.00 in Ligao City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $178 – making Ligao 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 Ligao City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manila is pricier by about 28%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,401 per month in Manila and $1,095 in Ligao City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ligao City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Manila, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Manila and $17.00 in Ligao City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ligao City, where all-in costs run around $730, than in Manila at $934. In Ligao City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ligao City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Ligao 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.