Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Malaybalay Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Malaybalay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $957 in Manila versus $784 in Malaybalay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,538 in Manila versus $1,216 in Malaybalay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,118 in Manila versus $1,649 in Malaybalay.

Living in Manila is roughly 22% more expensive than in Malaybalay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 28% lower, Malaybalay 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$4.37 ₱269

20.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$15.75 ₱970

72.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$3.95 ₱243

15.19%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$2.14 ₱132

27.57%

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

$0.96 ₱59.2

$0.50 ₱31.04

92.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.37 ₱22.57

35.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.09 ₱66.9

41.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$1.76 ₱108

50.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.70 ₱104

11.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$1.22 ₱75.1

9.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$0.93 ₱57.6

15.05%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$2.00 ₱123

4.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$6.05 ₱372

53.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$4.56 ₱281

14.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱526

$7.47 ₱460

14.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$2.83 ₱174

25.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.19 ₱73.4

51.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.28 ₱140

57.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.42 ₱87.5

76.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$2.18 ₱134

27.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$3.17 ₱195

-0.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.38 ₱84.8

43.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.60 ₱36.82

13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.67 ₱164

23.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$8.14 ₱501

16.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.36 ₱83.9

7.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.55 ₱95.4

36.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.28 ₱17.37

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.85 ₱52.6

3.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.23 ₱14.10

17.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.18 ₱134

-4.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.09 ₱67.2

7.34%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$21.9K ₱1.3M

19.04%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$20.9K ₱1.3M

9.41%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$105 ₱6,459

29.08%

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

$21.56 ₱1,327

$33.33 ₱2,052

-35.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$35.84 ₱2,207

-23.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$34.25 ₱2,109

20.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.36 ₱269

56.42%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$4.52 ₱278

53.10%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$118 ₱7,251

208.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$4,376 ₱269.4K

164.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$45.25 ₱2,786

4.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$30.63 ₱1,886

12.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$76.2 ₱4,691

7.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$68.0 ₱4,185

-30.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$271 ₱16.7K

79.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$180 ₱11.1K

50.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$587 ₱36.1K

194.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$389 ₱23.9K

64.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$2,377 ₱146.3K

82.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$1,109 ₱68.3K

134.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

9.56

-21.34%

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

Last update for Manila: July 11, 2026

Last update for Malaybalay: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $486 in Manila and $271 in Malaybalay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Manila vs $16.00 in Malaybalay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $194 per month, with Malaybalay cheaper across the board.

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 Malaybalay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila and Malaybalay differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($957 vs $784 including rent). Malaybalay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,436 in Manila and $1,176 in Malaybalay to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $486 in Manila versus $271 in Malaybalay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $363 in Manila versus $118 in Malaybalay. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Malaybalay – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $27.00 in Manila. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Malaybalay gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Manila and Malaybalay are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Malaybalay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.