Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Marawi Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Marawi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $717 in Marawi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,506 per month in Manila vs $1,102 in Marawi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,052 per month in Manila vs $1,487 in Marawi, rent included.

Manila costs about 34% more than Marawi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Marawi are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, Marawi 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱341

$3.61 ₱226

50.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,664

$14.46 ₱907

83.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$2.77 ₱174

41.52%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱158

$2.16 ₱136

16.20%

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

$1.39 ₱87.0

$0.58 ₱36.42

139.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.30 ₱19.08

176.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.0

$1.26 ₱79.3

-7.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.73 ₱109

58.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.69 ₱106

11.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.8

$1.16 ₱72.6

20.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱62.0

$0.95 ₱59.9

4.21%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$1.92 ₱121

20.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱490

$5.30 ₱332

47.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱309

$4.10 ₱257

20.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱446

$6.99 ₱438

1.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$2.27 ₱142

42.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.62 ₱101

16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.39 ₱150

25.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱114

$1.18 ₱73.8

54.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$2.02 ₱127

9.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱165

$1.95 ₱122

34.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$0.77 ₱48.43

181.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.12

$0.52 ₱32.70

13.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱199

$3.21 ₱201

-0.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱597

$6.80 ₱427

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.5

$0.81 ₱50.6

58.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$1.88 ₱118

7.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.25

$0.26 ₱16.28

80.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱806

$9.46 ₱593

35.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.26

$0.76 ₱47.88

1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.44

$0.23 ₱14.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

$1.75 ₱110

12.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.5

$1.09 ₱68.1

16.51%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

5.53%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$22.1K ₱1.4M

-11.01%

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

$122 ₱7,639

$108 ₱6,761

12.99%

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

$15.16 ₱951

$12.81 ₱803

18.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,505

$24.42 ₱1,531

-1.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,673

$36.16 ₱2,268

17.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱357

$4.31 ₱270

32.02%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱432

$4.88 ₱306

40.98%

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

$618 ₱38.8K

$131 ₱8,237

370.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱555.9K

$8,059 ₱505.4K

9.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,658

$31.86 ₱1,998

83.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,751

$19.13 ₱1,200

45.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,881

$70.3 ₱4,408

10.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,667

$55.0 ₱3,447

6.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.2K

$262 ₱16.4K

108.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$172 ₱10.8K

65.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$492 ₱30.8K

292.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.2K

$351 ₱22.0K

91.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱275.8K

$2,956 ₱185.4K

48.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.5K

$1,034 ₱64.9K

144.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

$284 ₱17.8K

68.12%

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: September 12, 2026

Last update for Marawi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Manila versus $262 in Marawi. 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 68% 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 $14.00 in Marawi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $174 – making Marawi 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 Marawi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $959 in Manila, $717 in Marawi – roughly 34% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,439 per month in Manila and $1,076 in Marawi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Marawi, 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 $717 in Marawi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 36% less in Marawi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Marawi, where all-in costs run around $717, than in Manila at $959. In Marawi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $717 in Marawi to $959 in Manila. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Marawi. 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.