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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $628 in Lipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,030 in Lipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,432 in Lipa, rent included.

Manila costs about 53% 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

$5.39 ₱333

$3.62 ₱223

48.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$17.64 ₱1,088

51.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.12 ₱192

45.51%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$2.35 ₱145

11.49%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.46 ₱28.18

113.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.33 ₱20.54

63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$0.67 ₱41.63

120.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$1.34 ₱83.0

46.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.12 ₱69.0

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$1.12 ₱69.1

-8.04%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$1.87 ₱115

10.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$7.08 ₱437

28.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$4.23 ₱261

22.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$7.14 ₱441

21.85%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$1.72 ₱106

97.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.58 ₱97.2

14.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$1.82 ₱112

101.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.21 ₱74.3

108.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$0.92 ₱57.0

205.43%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$1.04 ₱64.1

197.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$0.52 ₱31.95

282.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$1.01 ₱62.6

-31.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$3.28 ₱202

4.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$9.01 ₱556

10.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$0.90 ₱55.8

65.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.05 ₱126

6.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.22 ₱13.53

118.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.77 ₱47.39

20.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.22 ₱13.50

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.11 ₱130

2.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.15 ₱70.7

-2.61%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$25.2K ₱1.6M

5.28%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

13.47%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$81.7 ₱5,040

64.80%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$33.09 ₱2,041

-33.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$29.99 ₱1,850

-6.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$26.16 ₱1,614

60.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$5.83 ₱360

15.44%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$80.4 ₱4,959

354.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$2,744 ₱169.2K

321.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$31.82 ₱1,963

47.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$29.99 ₱1,850

16.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$98.8 ₱6,095

-17.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$95.1 ₱5,864

-51.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$88.3 ₱5,449

453.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$66.2 ₱4,080

307.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$280 ₱17.3K

502.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$254 ₱15.7K

147.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$235 ₱14.5K

92.82%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Lipa: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $88.3 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 93% 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: $963 in Manila, $628 in Lipa – roughly 53% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $941 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 $628, than in Manila at $963. 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 $628 in Lipa to $963 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.