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 $968 per month in Manila vs $770 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Manila vs $1,206 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,085 per month in Manila vs $1,642 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

Manila costs about 26% more than Magallanes, Cavite, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Magallanes, Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Manila 27% lower, Magallanes, Cavite 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱332

$3.57 ₱219

51.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,609

$17.76 ₱1,091

47.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱265

$3.24 ₱199

33.33%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱163

$2.34 ₱144

13.25%

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

$0.96 ₱58.8

$0.78 ₱47.94

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.34

$0.37 ₱22.59

45.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.7

$1.34 ₱82.4

14.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.19 ₱134

24.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.85 ₱114

2.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.7

$1.22 ₱74.7

9.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.8

$0.99 ₱60.6

10.10%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$2.00 ₱123

5.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱558

$8.04 ₱494

13.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱314

$4.30 ₱264

19.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱511

$7.55 ₱463

10.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱214

$2.84 ₱174

22.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱113

$1.60 ₱98.0

14.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$2.58 ₱158

41.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.62 ₱99.7

53.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$2.19 ₱135

22.37%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱190

$2.53 ₱156

22.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$1.11 ₱68.4

79.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.86

$0.73 ₱44.72

-4.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.88 ₱177

16.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱610

$8.78 ₱539

13.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.9

$1.21 ₱74.1

19.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱132

$2.06 ₱126

4.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.58

$0.28 ₱17.26

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱741

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.3

$0.82 ₱50.3

6.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.71

$0.24 ₱14.78

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.18 ₱134

-4.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.2

$1.10 ₱67.6

2.73%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$26.9K ₱1.7M

-1.32%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

11.55%

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

$136 ₱8,343

$110 ₱6,775

23.13%

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

$22.22 ₱1,364

$32.23 ₱1,979

-31.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,695

$26.95 ₱1,655

2.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,624

$34.59 ₱2,124

23.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱432

$4.40 ₱270

60.00%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱409

$5.83 ₱358

14.41%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$155 ₱9,493

134.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱696.9K

$4,272 ₱262.3K

165.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,884

$46.45 ₱2,852

1.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,128

$26.97 ₱1,656

28.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,100

$76.2 ₱4,678

9.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,838

$54.2 ₱3,330

-14.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱30.0K

$261 ₱16.0K

86.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.2K

$178 ₱10.9K

47.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.7K

$585 ₱35.9K

191.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.5K

$401 ₱24.6K

56.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱271.0K

$2,440 ₱149.8K

80.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱155.1K

$1,013 ₱62.2K

149.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.2K

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 25, 2026

Last update for Magallanes, Cavite: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Manila versus $261 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 $18.00 in Magallanes, Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $206 – 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 26% 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 $1,452 per month in Manila and $1,155 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Manila and $18.00 in Magallanes, Cavite. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Magallanes, Cavite, where all-in costs run around $770, than in Manila at $968. 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 $770 versus $968 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.