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: $959 in Manila versus $778 in Malaybalay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,528 in Manila versus $1,211 in Malaybalay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,097 in Manila versus $1,644 in Malaybalay.

Living in Manila is roughly 23% more expensive than Malaybalay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 28% lower, Malaybalay 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$4.37 ₱269

23.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$16.17 ₱997

65.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.91 ₱241

11.00%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.07 ₱128

32.85%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.51 ₱31.67

88.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.36 ₱22.49

38.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.08 ₱66.7

37.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.75 ₱108

49.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.74 ₱107

8.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.28 ₱78.7

7.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.99 ₱60.9

6.06%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.09 ₱129

4.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$5.98 ₱369

60.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.49 ₱277

15.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.21 ₱444

15.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.90 ₱179

20.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.19 ₱73.5

51.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.38 ₱147

50.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.35 ₱83.4

84.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.30 ₱142

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$3.31 ₱204

-8.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.32 ₱81.4

52.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.60 ₱37.29

6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.69 ₱166

23.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$7.91 ₱488

23.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.40 ₱86.1

6.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.50 ₱92.2

43.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.28 ₱17.37

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.91 ₱56.2

-5.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.25 ₱15.47

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.18 ₱134

-0.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.14 ₱70.5

1.75%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$22.6K ₱1.4M

16.15%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.9K ₱1.3M

8.51%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$103 ₱6,357

34.16%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$33.29 ₱2,053

-33.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$36.73 ₱2,265

-24.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$34.32 ₱2,116

20.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.46 ₱275

54.48%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$4.53 ₱279

45.25%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$119 ₱7,334

200.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,392 ₱270.8K

161.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$45.45 ₱2,803

2.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$30.66 ₱1,890

14.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$77.1 ₱4,756

6.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$70.1 ₱4,320

-34.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$271 ₱16.7K

84.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$178 ₱11.0K

48.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$576 ₱35.5K

192.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$393 ₱24.2K

61.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,167 ₱133.6K

101.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$905 ₱55.8K

181.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Malaybalay: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 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 $242 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 23% in total monthly costs ($959 vs $778 including rent). Malaybalay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,438 in Manila and $1,166 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: $500 in Manila versus $271 in Malaybalay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $357 in Manila versus $119 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.

At $778 in Malaybalay versus $959 in Manila, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Malaybalay but tight or insufficient in Manila. The gap between the two cities makes Malaybalay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 23% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.