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 $959 per month in Manila vs $763 in Ligao City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,207 in Ligao City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,651 in Ligao City, rent included.

Manila costs about 26% more than Ligao City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$3.53 ₱218

52.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$18.05 ₱1,113

48.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.29 ₱203

31.91%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.40 ₱148

14.58%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.78 ₱48.05

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.40 ₱24.59

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.31 ₱80.7

13.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.08 ₱128

25.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.89 ₱117

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.22 ₱75.3

13.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.94 ₱58.0

11.70%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$1.99 ₱123

9.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$8.12 ₱501

18.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.23 ₱261

22.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.52 ₱463

10.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.98 ₱184

17.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.58 ₱97.4

13.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.72 ₱168

31.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.54 ₱94.8

61.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.32 ₱143

18.97%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.50 ₱154

21.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.10 ₱68.1

82.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.72 ₱44.68

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.80 ₱173

18.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$8.11 ₱500

20.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.20 ₱73.8

24.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.99 ₱123

8.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.28 ₱17.33

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.77 ₱47.20

11.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.24 ₱14.87

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.08 ₱128

3.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.14 ₱70.6

1.75%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$26.5K ₱1.6M

-1.29%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

11.87%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$111 ₱6,864

24.27%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$32.80 ₱2,022

-32.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$27.10 ₱1,671

2.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$34.11 ₱2,104

21.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.51 ₱278

52.77%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$5.86 ₱361

12.29%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$153 ₱9,411

133.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,345 ₱267.9K

163.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$46.16 ₱2,846

0.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$26.66 ₱1,644

31.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$74.4 ₱4,585

10.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$53.2 ₱3,278

-13.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$270 ₱16.6K

85.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$177 ₱10.9K

49.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$588 ₱36.3K

186.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$390 ₱24.1K

62.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,432 ₱150.0K

79.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$960 ₱59.2K

165.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$286 ₱17.6K

68.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.67

12.74%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ligao City: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $270 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 68% 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 $18.00 in Ligao City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $205 – 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 26%, 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 $1,438 per month in Manila and $1,144 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $959 in Manila and $763 in Ligao City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $153 in Ligao City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ligao City, where all-in costs run around $763, than in Manila at $959. 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.