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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $782 in Marawi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,212 in Marawi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,643 in Marawi, rent included.

Manila costs about 23% more than Marawi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Marawi are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Marawi 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$3.58 ₱221

50.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$18.02 ₱1,112

48.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.27 ₱202

38.84%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$2.44 ₱151

7.38%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.81 ₱50.2

20.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.39 ₱24.13

38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.35 ₱83.1

9.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.10 ₱129

30.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$1.92 ₱119

2.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.22 ₱75.5

14.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$0.93 ₱57.6

10.75%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.06 ₱127

0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$8.22 ₱507

10.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$4.30 ₱265

20.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$7.79 ₱480

11.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$2.89 ₱178

17.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.59 ₱98.0

13.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$2.58 ₱159

41.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.55 ₱95.5

62.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$2.25 ₱139

24.89%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$2.53 ₱156

22.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$1.11 ₱68.8

79.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.76 ₱46.93

-9.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$2.80 ₱172

22.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$7.28 ₱449

37.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.19 ₱73.4

25.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.00 ₱123

9.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.28 ₱17.32

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.78 ₱48.06

19.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.24 ₱14.85

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.11 ₱130

2.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.10 ₱68.2

1.82%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$26.9K ₱1.7M

-1.24%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

11.50%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$113 ₱6,948

19.55%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$32.89 ₱2,029

-33.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$27.09 ₱1,671

3.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$34.55 ₱2,131

21.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$4.46 ₱275

56.95%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$5.96 ₱368

12.92%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$154 ₱9,474

137.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$4,228 ₱260.8K

173.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$44.90 ₱2,769

4.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$26.81 ₱1,654

30.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$75.6 ₱4,665

8.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$53.0 ₱3,266

-13.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$261 ₱16.1K

87.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$177 ₱10.9K

52.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$585 ₱36.1K

188.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$393 ₱24.3K

60.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

$2,531 ₱156.1K

70.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

$246 ₱15.2K

972.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$296 ₱18.3K

52.87%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Marawi: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $261 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 53% 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 $18.00 in Marawi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $205 – 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: $963 in Manila, $782 in Marawi – roughly 23% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $1,173 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 $963 in Manila and $782 in Marawi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $365 per month in Manila and $154 in Marawi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Marawi, where all-in costs run around $782, than in Manila at $963. 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 $782 in Marawi to $963 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.