Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Magallanes, Cavite Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Magallanes, Cavite

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $927 per month in Manila vs $730 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $1,121 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,511 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

Manila costs about 27% more than Magallanes, Cavite, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Magallanes, Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Magallanes, Cavite 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱324

$3.71 ₱232

39.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,621

$16.89 ₱1,059

53.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱246

$2.78 ₱174

41.37%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱158

$2.15 ₱135

17.21%

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

$1.36 ₱85.1

$0.59 ₱36.98

130.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.34 ₱21.42

144.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.8

$1.07 ₱67.2

5.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.85 ₱116

48.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱119

$1.67 ₱105

13.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.6

$1.16 ₱72.6

23.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$0.95 ₱59.9

3.16%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱140

$1.89 ₱119

17.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱501

$5.29 ₱331

51.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱294

$4.16 ₱261

12.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱427

$7.05 ₱442

-3.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱208

$2.32 ₱145

43.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$1.59 ₱99.8

15.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.35 ₱147

26.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.19 ₱74.8

56.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱142

$2.05 ₱129

10.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱169

$1.97 ₱123

37.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$0.83 ₱51.9

153.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.83

$0.56 ₱35.00

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱201

$2.93 ₱184

9.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱602

$7.84 ₱491

22.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱83.0

$0.94 ₱58.9

40.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱132

$1.93 ₱121

8.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱29.04

$0.25 ₱15.61

84.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱795

$11.32 ₱710

12.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.77 ₱48.12

7.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.47

$0.23 ₱14.42

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱117

$1.90 ₱119

-2.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.6

$1.16 ₱72.9

6.90%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

0.59%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

0.04%

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

$122 ₱7,647

$123 ₱7,705

-0.75%

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

$14.83 ₱930

$15.20 ₱953

-2.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,502

$24.77 ₱1,553

-3.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,662

$32.34 ₱2,027

31.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱363

$4.82 ₱302

20.12%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱431

$5.13 ₱322

34.11%

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

$621 ₱38.9K

$134 ₱8,428

361.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱555.8K

$7,966 ₱499.4K

11.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,604

$31.67 ₱1,985

81.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,758

$19.75 ₱1,238

41.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,866

$71.5 ₱4,482

8.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,628

$56.1 ₱3,517

3.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.5K

$272 ₱17.1K

96.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱18.0K

$171 ₱10.7K

67.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$493 ₱30.9K

290.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.6K

$347 ₱21.7K

91.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱273.1K

$2,591 ₱162.4K

68.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱160.2K

$1,051 ₱65.9K

143.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.75

10.07%

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

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Last update for Magallanes, Cavite: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $272 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $17.00 in Magallanes, Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $178 – making Magallanes, Cavite 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 Magallanes, Cavite: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila costs about 27% more than Magallanes, Cavite, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,391 per month in Manila and $1,095 in Magallanes, Cavite. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Magallanes, Cavite, 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 $927 in Manila and $730 in Magallanes, Cavite. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 12% less in Magallanes, Cavite. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Magallanes, Cavite, where all-in costs run around $730, than in Manila at $927. In Magallanes, Cavite it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Magallanes, Cavite costs $730 versus $927 in Manila. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Magallanes, Cavite. 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.