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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $934 per month in Manila vs $500 in Mambajao, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,491 per month in Manila vs $801 in Mambajao, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,048 per month in Manila vs $1,101 in Mambajao, rent included.

Manila costs about 87% more than Mambajao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Mambajao are more affordable than the global median – Manila 32% lower, Mambajao 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.70 ₱356

$1.38 ₱86.5

313.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.88 ₱1,618

$15.73 ₱984

64.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 ₱257

$3.43 ₱214

19.83%

Cappuccino

$2.49 ₱155

$2.24 ₱140

11.16%

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

$1.37 ₱85.5

$0.41 ₱25.73

234.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₱52.4

$0.29 ₱18.36

189.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₱71.6

$0.99 ₱61.6

15.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 ₱167

$1.13 ₱70.8

136.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$0.87 ₱54.2

117.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ₱91.3

$0.61 ₱38.32

139.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱61.7

$0.70 ₱43.85

41.43%

Eggs

$2.32 ₱145

$1.21 ₱76.0

91.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 ₱491

$6.03 ₱377

30.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 ₱310

$4.08 ₱255

21.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.07 ₱442

$5.61 ₱351

26.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱212

$2.38 ₱149

42.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 ₱121

$1.65 ₱103

16.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱188

$2.55 ₱160

18.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 ₱111

$1.12 ₱70.1

58.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 ₱140

$1.29 ₱80.8

73.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 ₱162

$1.78 ₱111

45.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 ₱133

$0.74 ₱46.34

186.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.90

$0.53 ₱33.15

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 ₱190

$2.76 ₱172

9.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 ₱616

$8.12 ₱508

21.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.0

$0.98 ₱61.4

30.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱132

$1.19 ₱74.4

77.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.23

$0.17 ₱10.84

176.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.73 ₱796

$12.53 ₱784

1.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.72 ₱45.18

15.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.42

$0.22 ₱13.56

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 ₱124

$2.12 ₱133

-6.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.4

$1.27 ₱79.6

-2.36%

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

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$20.0K ₱1.2M

8.92%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$22.1K ₱1.4M

-10.74%

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

$121 ₱7,597

$63.2 ₱3,952

92.23%

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

$15.06 ₱942

$14.83 ₱927

1.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.90 ₱1,495

$19.82 ₱1,239

20.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.84 ₱2,741

$34.74 ₱2,173

26.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.97 ₱374

$5.23 ₱327

14.15%

Cinema Ticket

$7.03 ₱440

$5.45 ₱340

28.99%

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

$629 ₱39.3K

$114 ₱7,152

450.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,036 ₱565.0K

$8,918 ₱557.6K

1.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 ₱3,698

$30.41 ₱1,902

94.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.07 ₱1,756

$18.56 ₱1,160

51.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 ₱4,724

$74.0 ₱4,624

2.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,620

$61.9 ₱3,871

-6.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$537 ₱33.6K

$99.9 ₱6,243

437.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 ₱17.7K

$55.9 ₱3,492

406.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,898 ₱118.7K

$238 ₱14.9K

697.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$671 ₱41.9K

$160 ₱10.0K

318.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,351 ₱272.1K

$2,782 ₱174.0K

56.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,494 ₱156.0K

$1,092 ₱68.3K

128.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$484 ₱30.2K

$151 ₱9,469

219.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.75

10.07%

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

Last update for Manila: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mambajao: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $537 in Manila versus $99.9 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 219% 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $16.00 in Mambajao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $156 – 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 87% 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 $1,401 per month in Manila and $750 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 $934 in Manila and $500 in Mambajao. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% less in Mambajao. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mambajao, where all-in costs run around $500, than in Manila at $934. 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 $500 versus $934 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.