Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Mambajao Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Mambajao

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $632 in Mambajao, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,001 in Mambajao, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,370 in Mambajao, rent included.

Manila costs about 52% more than Mambajao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Mambajao are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Mambajao 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$1.55 ₱95.6

247.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$26.49 ₱1,634

1.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$4.41 ₱272

-1.59%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$3.04 ₱187

-9.54%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$1.41 ₱86.9

-31.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.77 ₱47.77

-35.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.12 ₱69.2

33.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.72 ₱168

-4.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.33 ₱82.0

42.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$0.91 ₱55.9

51.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.88 ₱54.1

19.32%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$1.41 ₱87.0

54.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$7.94 ₱490

21.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.21 ₱260

23.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$6.56 ₱405

26.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.98 ₱184

17.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.35 ₱83.0

33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.71 ₱167

32.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.59 ₱98.3

56.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.39 ₱147

15.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.60 ₱161

16.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.12 ₱68.9

79.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.72 ₱44.64

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.91 ₱180

14.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$8.16 ₱503

19.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.07 ₱66.2

39.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.30 ₱80.3

65.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.20 ₱12.31

160.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.82 ₱50.4

4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.22 ₱13.52

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.17 ₱134

-0.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.41 ₱86.8

-17.73%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$27.1K ₱1.7M

-3.29%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

12.59%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$84.0 ₱5,181

64.61%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$32.13 ₱1,981

-30.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$22.09 ₱1,362

25.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$33.64 ₱2,074

23.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.49 ₱277

53.45%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$5.87 ₱362

12.10%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$150 ₱9,227

138.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,285 ₱264.2K

167.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$45.28 ₱2,792

2.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$26.22 ₱1,617

33.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$75.4 ₱4,648

9.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$53.3 ₱3,284

-14.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$132 ₱8,138

278.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$87.0 ₱5,363

204.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$293 ₱18.1K

473.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$191 ₱11.8K

232.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,460 ₱151.7K

77.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$885 ₱54.6K

187.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$154 ₱9,498

212.23%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Mambajao: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $132 in Mambajao. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 212% higher in Manila, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $26.00 in Mambajao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $188 – making Mambajao 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 Mambajao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila costs about 52% more than Mambajao, 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 $1,438 per month in Manila and $948 in Mambajao. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mambajao, 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 $959 in Manila and $632 in Mambajao. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $150 in Mambajao. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mambajao, where all-in costs run around $632, than in Manila at $959. In Mambajao it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mambajao costs $632 versus $959 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 Mambajao. 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.