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 $957 per month in Manila vs $767 in Ligao City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,201 in Ligao City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $1,635 in Ligao City, rent included.

Manila costs about 25% 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

$5.28 ₱325

$3.45 ₱212

53.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$17.76 ₱1,093

52.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$3.23 ₱199

40.87%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$2.36 ₱145

15.68%

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

$0.96 ₱59.2

$0.79 ₱48.39

21.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.36 ₱22.26

38.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.32 ₱81.1

16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$2.08 ₱128

27.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.84 ₱113

3.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$1.23 ₱75.6

8.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$0.94 ₱58.1

13.83%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$8.07 ₱497

14.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$4.31 ₱265

20.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱526

$7.87 ₱485

8.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$2.94 ₱181

20.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.52 ₱93.5

18.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.71 ₱167

32.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.54 ₱94.7

62.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$2.23 ₱137

24.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$2.54 ₱156

24.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.06 ₱65.3

86.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.77 ₱47.51

-11.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.87 ₱176

15.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$8.18 ₱503

16.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.20 ₱73.8

21.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.96 ₱121

7.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.26 ₱15.92

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.82 ₱50.3

7.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.24 ₱14.81

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.07 ₱128

0.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.14 ₱70.3

2.63%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

-0.33%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

9.80%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$112 ₱6,876

21.26%

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

$21.56 ₱1,327

$32.40 ₱1,995

-33.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$27.25 ₱1,678

1.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$34.38 ₱2,116

20.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.40 ₱271

55.00%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$5.87 ₱361

17.89%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$151 ₱9,288

140.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$4,269 ₱262.8K

171.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$45.60 ₱2,807

3.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$26.15 ₱1,610

31.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$74.9 ₱4,613

9.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$53.5 ₱3,294

-11.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$270 ₱16.6K

80.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$179 ₱11.0K

51.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$585 ₱36.0K

195.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$392 ₱24.1K

63.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$2,391 ₱147.2K

81.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$972 ₱59.8K

167.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

$286 ₱17.6K

63.41%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ligao City: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 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 63% 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: $241 vs $206 – 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 25%, 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 $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,151 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 $957 in Manila and $767 in Ligao City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $151 in Ligao City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Manila and $767 in Ligao City, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.