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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $776 in Marawi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,543 per month in Manila vs $1,222 in Marawi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Manila vs $1,669 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

$5.22 ₱315

$3.45 ₱208

51.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.52 ₱1,597

$17.46 ₱1,052

51.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 ₱264

$3.37 ₱203

29.97%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ₱164

$2.45 ₱148

11.02%

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

$0.93 ₱55.9

$0.79 ₱47.50

17.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₱30.63

$0.39 ₱23.69

30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱91.7

$1.36 ₱82.0

11.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ₱163

$2.09 ₱126

29.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₱117

$1.84 ₱111

5.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 ₱81.9

$1.27 ₱76.7

7.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱65.5

$0.95 ₱57.2

14.74%

Eggs

$2.10 ₱127

$2.02 ₱122

3.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 ₱570

$7.99 ₱481

18.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.24 ₱316

$4.26 ₱257

23.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.78 ₱529

$7.84 ₱472

11.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱205

$2.88 ₱173

18.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₱106

$1.52 ₱91.8

16.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 ₱210

$2.62 ₱158

32.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₱145

$1.54 ₱92.5

56.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 ₱161

$2.29 ₱138

16.59%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 ₱190

$2.54 ₱153

24.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₱122

$1.07 ₱64.3

88.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱41.56

$0.71 ₱42.61

-2.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱202

$2.88 ₱174

16.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.03 ₱604

$7.85 ₱473

27.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱87.9

$1.19 ₱71.8

22.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱129

$2.04 ₱123

4.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.03

$0.26 ₱15.46

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 ₱723

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱55.1

$0.79 ₱47.33

16.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.32

$0.22 ₱13.19

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₱131

$2.11 ₱127

3.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱69.6

$1.14 ₱68.5

1.75%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

-0.00%

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

$23.1K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.2M

11.38%

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

$134 ₱8,058

$112 ₱6,743

19.52%

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

$22.30 ₱1,343

$32.48 ₱1,956

-31.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 ₱1,622

$27.27 ₱1,642

-1.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.13 ₱2,537

$33.27 ₱2,004

26.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.77 ₱408

$4.41 ₱266

53.51%

Cinema Ticket

$6.57 ₱395

$5.92 ₱356

10.98%

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

$354 ₱21.3K

$152 ₱9,125

133.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱675.0K

$4,297 ₱258.8K

160.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.31 ₱2,849

$46.29 ₱2,788

2.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.90 ₱2,102

$26.22 ₱1,579

33.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.5 ₱4,966

$74.9 ₱4,512

10.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.21 ₱2,783

$52.6 ₱3,166

-12.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.1K

$262 ₱15.8K

90.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.4K

$177 ₱10.7K

53.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,716 ₱103.3K

$589 ₱35.5K

191.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 ₱38.0K

$393 ₱23.6K

60.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,360 ₱262.6K

$2,285 ₱137.6K

90.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,599 ₱156.5K

$997 ₱60.0K

160.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$516 ₱31.1K

$297 ₱17.9K

73.47%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Marawi: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 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 73% 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 $17.00 in Marawi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $204 – 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: $957 in Manila, $776 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 $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,164 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 $957 in Manila and $776 in Marawi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $354 per month in Manila and $152 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 $776, than in Manila at $957. 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 $776 in Marawi to $957 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.