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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $622 in Mambajao, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,019 in Mambajao, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $1,417 in Mambajao, rent included.

Manila costs about 54% 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

$5.28 ₱325

$1.54 ₱95.1

242.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$27.01 ₱1,663

0.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$4.38 ₱270

3.88%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$3.14 ₱193

-13.06%

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

$0.96 ₱59.2

$1.33 ₱81.9

-27.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.77 ₱47.46

-35.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.14 ₱70.2

35.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$2.71 ₱167

-2.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.27 ₱78.4

49.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$0.92 ₱56.5

44.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$0.89 ₱55.0

20.22%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$1.40 ₱86.0

48.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$8.20 ₱505

13.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$4.29 ₱264

21.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱526

$6.33 ₱390

35.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$2.90 ₱178

22.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.35 ₱83.3

33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.58 ₱159

38.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.55 ₱95.6

61.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$2.37 ₱146

17.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$2.60 ₱160

21.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.08 ₱66.3

83.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.75 ₱46.26

-9.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.77 ₱171

19.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$8.07 ₱497

17.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.12 ₱68.9

30.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.24 ₱76.2

70.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.22 ₱13.56

118.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.76 ₱46.97

15.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.24 ₱14.79

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.10 ₱129

-0.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.41 ₱86.8

-17.02%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$26.3K ₱1.6M

-0.74%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

11.87%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$85.4 ₱5,257

58.59%

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

$21.56 ₱1,327

$32.83 ₱2,021

-34.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$22.08 ₱1,359

24.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$33.81 ₱2,081

22.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.51 ₱278

51.22%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$5.79 ₱357

19.52%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$154 ₱9,484

135.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$4,293 ₱264.3K

169.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$45.12 ₱2,778

4.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$26.21 ₱1,614

31.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$74.7 ₱4,601

9.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$53.0 ₱3,263

-10.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$132 ₱8,112

268.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$87.0 ₱5,357

212.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$290 ₱17.8K

497.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$193 ₱11.9K

231.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$2,672 ₱164.5K

62.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$1,083 ₱66.6K

140.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

$153 ₱9,436

204.58%

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 11, 2026

Last update for Mambajao: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 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 205% 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 $27.00 in Mambajao. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Manila vs $187 in Mambajao – so Mambajao wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 54% 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 $1,436 per month in Manila and $933 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 $957 in Manila and $622 in Mambajao. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $154 in Mambajao. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Manila and $622 in Mambajao, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mambajao costs $622 versus $957 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.