Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Lipa Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Lipa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $620 in Lipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,543 per month in Manila vs $1,022 in Lipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Manila vs $1,424 in Lipa, rent included.

Manila costs about 54% more than Lipa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Lipa are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Lipa 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.22 ₱315

$3.52 ₱212

48.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.52 ₱1,597

$18.05 ₱1,087

46.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 ₱264

$3.11 ₱187

40.84%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ₱164

$2.31 ₱139

17.75%

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

$0.93 ₱55.9

$0.45 ₱27.32

106.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₱30.63

$0.31 ₱18.51

64.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱91.7

$0.68 ₱40.87

123.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ₱163

$2.62 ₱158

3.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₱117

$1.41 ₱84.8

38.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 ₱81.9

$1.12 ₱67.7

21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱65.5

$1.08 ₱65.0

0.93%

Eggs

$2.10 ₱127

$1.92 ₱116

9.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 ₱570

$6.99 ₱421

35.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.24 ₱316

$4.24 ₱255

23.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.78 ₱529

$7.37 ₱444

19.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱205

$1.76 ₱106

93.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₱106

$1.52 ₱91.8

16.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 ₱210

$1.74 ₱105

100.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₱145

$1.20 ₱72.5

100.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 ₱161

$0.85 ₱50.9

214.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 ₱190

$1.03 ₱62.3

205.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₱122

$0.50 ₱30.40

304.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱41.56

$1.06 ₱63.8

-34.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱202

$3.22 ₱194

4.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.03 ₱604

$8.87 ₱534

13.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱87.9

$0.85 ₱51.1

71.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱129

$1.95 ₱117

9.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.03

$0.22 ₱13.22

136.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 ₱723

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱55.1

$0.76 ₱46.07

21.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.32

$0.22 ₱13.21

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₱131

$2.16 ₱130

0.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱69.6

$1.14 ₱68.8

1.75%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$25.6K ₱1.5M

4.78%

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

$23.1K ₱1.4M

$20.5K ₱1.2M

12.89%

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

$134 ₱8,058

$81.7 ₱4,922

63.73%

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

$22.30 ₱1,343

$32.66 ₱1,967

-31.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 ₱1,622

$30.41 ₱1,832

-11.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.13 ₱2,537

$26.87 ₱1,618

56.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.77 ₱408

Cinema Ticket

$6.57 ₱395

$5.98 ₱360

9.87%

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

$354 ₱21.3K

$81.7 ₱4,919

333.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱675.0K

$2,808 ₱169.1K

299.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.31 ₱2,849

$32.45 ₱1,955

45.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.90 ₱2,102

$30.05 ₱1,810

16.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.5 ₱4,966

$97.7 ₱5,884

-15.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.21 ₱2,783

$94.6 ₱5,697

-51.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.1K

$88.4 ₱5,322

465.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.4K

$66.5 ₱4,003

309.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,716 ₱103.3K

$276 ₱16.6K

521.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 ₱38.0K

$253 ₱15.3K

148.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,360 ₱262.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,599 ₱156.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$516 ₱31.1K

$232 ₱14.0K

122.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

8.13

-7.50%

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

Last update for Manila: June 14, 2026

Last update for Lipa: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $88.4 in Lipa. 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 122% 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 Lipa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $178 – making Lipa 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 Lipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $957 in Manila, $620 in Lipa – roughly 54% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Manila and $931 in Lipa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila and $18.00 in Lipa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lipa, where all-in costs run around $620, than in Manila at $957. In Lipa 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 $620 in Lipa to $957 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 Lipa. 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.