Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Magallanes, Cavite

For one person, living is cheaper in Magallanes, Cavite: $713 a month against $945 in Manila, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Manila, Philippines
Magallanes, Cavite, Philippines
Manila
🇵🇭 Philippines
$945
/mo nomad
Magallanes, Cavite
🇵🇭 Philippines
$713
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Manila and in Magallanes, Cavite

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Manila and in Magallanes, Cavite actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $945 per month in Manila vs $713 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

  • Manila $945
  • Magallanes, Cavite $713

A couple spends around $1,572 per month in Manila vs $1,080 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

  • Manila $1,572
  • Magallanes, Cavite $1,080

A family of three spends $2,199 per month in Manila vs $1,447 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

  • Manila $2,199
  • Magallanes, Cavite $1,447

Manila costs about 33% more than Magallanes, Cavite, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Manila and Magallanes, Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Manila 31% lower, Magallanes, Cavite 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manila
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.34 ₱342
$3.64 ₱233
46.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.46 ₱1,693
$14.70 ₱941
80.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.93 ₱252
$2.80 ₱179
40.36%
Cappuccino
$2.53 ₱162
$1.96 ₱126
29.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 ₱86.4
$0.57 ₱36.58
136.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₱52.3
$0.29 ₱18.70
182.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.14 ₱73.0
$1.22 ₱78.0
-6.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₱152
$2.23 ₱143
6.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manila
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.91 ₱122
$1.59 ₱102
20.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ₱92.2
$1.11 ₱70.8
29.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.94 ₱60.4
$0.83 ₱53.4
13.25%
Eggs
$2.30 ₱147
$2.07 ₱132
11.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.41 ₱474
$4.95 ₱316
49.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.61 ₱295
$4.16 ₱266
10.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.65 ₱425
$7.04 ₱451
-5.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 ₱211
$2.60 ₱166
26.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 ₱115
$1.53 ₱98.0
17.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.00 ₱192
$2.39 ₱153
25.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.76 ₱112
$0.99 ₱63.1
77.78%
Potato (1kg)
$2.22 ₱142
$2.12 ₱136
4.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.66 ₱170
$2.53 ₱162
5.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 ₱137
$1.02 ₱65.4
109.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱34.17
$0.49 ₱31.47
8.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06 ₱196
$3.06 ₱196
-
Wine (Bottle)
$9.57 ₱612
$8.29 ₱531
15.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 ₱83.4
$0.86 ₱55.1
51.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 ₱127
$2.05 ₱131
-2.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Manila
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 ₱25.87
$0.22 ₱14.29
81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.75 ₱816
$12.61 ₱807
1.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 ₱46.04
$0.86 ₱55.0
-16.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.74
$0.25 ₱16.15
-8.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.84 ₱118
$1.89 ₱121
-2.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ₱81.1
$1.14 ₱73.3
11.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K ₱1.3M
$23.2K ₱1.5M
-10.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.7K ₱1.2M
$18.2K ₱1.2M
2.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manila
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,653
$107 ₱6,868
11.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.69 ₱1,004
$15.05 ₱963
4.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.60 ₱1,510
$20.86 ₱1,335
13.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manila
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.57 ₱2,724
$34.97 ₱2,238
21.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.65 ₱362
$5.18 ₱331
9.07%
Cinema Ticket
$6.50 ₱416
$5.23 ₱335
24.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manila
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$599 ₱38.3K
$116 ₱7,401
417.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,818 ₱564.3K
$8,141 ₱521.0K
8.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manila
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 ₱3,627
$34.42 ₱2,203
64.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.40 ₱1,753
$21.19 ₱1,356
29.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.4 ₱4,886
$61.0 ₱3,905
25.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.5 ₱3,552
$46.67 ₱2,987
18.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manila
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$526 ₱33.7K
$269 ₱17.2K
95.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$297 ₱19.0K
$182 ₱11.6K
63.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,887 ₱120.7K
$535 ₱34.2K
252.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$816 ₱52.2K
$355 ₱22.7K
130.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,968 ₱253.9K
$2,864 ₱183.3K
38.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,366 ₱151.4K
$1,152 ₱73.7K
105.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manila
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$466 ₱29.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.43
6.92
7.37%

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

Last update for Manila: October 24, 2026

Last update for Magallanes, Cavite: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Manila
$297
Magallanes, Cavite
$182 38.7% $115
Groceries & Markets
Manila
$216
Magallanes, Cavite
$178 17.5% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manila
$159
Magallanes, Cavite
$143 9.9% $16
Eating Out
Manila
$104
Magallanes, Cavite
$75 27.9% $29
Clothing & Footwear
Manila
$97
Magallanes, Cavite
$73 24.4% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Manila
$56
Magallanes, Cavite
$45 18.2% $10
Getting Around
Manila
$16
Magallanes, Cavite
$16 3.8% $0.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $526 in Manila versus $269 in Magallanes, Cavite. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26 in Manila versus $15 in Magallanes, Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $216 vs $178 – making Magallanes, Cavite the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Manila
🇵🇭 Magallanes, Cavite
🕒 Local time
13:26 1:26 PM
13:26 1:26 PM
Same time as Manila
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,780,148 Capital
23,851
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 63.99 PHP (100 PHP = 1.56 USD). 1 EUR = 71.24 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Manila Magallanes, Cavite 51 km
From you
  • Manila
  • Magallanes, Cavite

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Magallanes, Cavite: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Manila or Magallanes, Cavite?
Manila costs about 33% more than Magallanes, Cavite, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Manila and in Magallanes, Cavite?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,418 per month in Manila and $1,070 in Magallanes, Cavite. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Manila or Magallanes, Cavite?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Magallanes, Cavite, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $269 there versus $526 in Manila.
How do dining costs compare in Manila and in Magallanes, Cavite?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26 in Manila and $15 in Magallanes, Cavite. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Manila or in Magallanes, Cavite?
Groceries cost about 21% more in Manila, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Manila or in Magallanes, Cavite?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Magallanes, Cavite, where all-in costs run around $713, than in Manila at $945. In Magallanes, Cavite it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Magallanes, Cavite – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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