Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Naga Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Naga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $968 per month in Manila vs $779 in Naga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Manila vs $1,145 in Naga, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,085 per month in Manila vs $1,510 in Naga, rent included.

Manila costs about 24% more than Naga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Naga are more affordable than the global median – Manila 27% lower, Naga 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱331

$3.45 ₱211

56.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,604

$18.03 ₱1,104

45.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱264

$3.29 ₱201

31.31%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱162

$2.46 ₱151

7.72%

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

$0.96 ₱58.6

$0.83 ₱50.8

15.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.24

$0.37 ₱22.36

45.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.4

$1.36 ₱83.3

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱167

$2.17 ₱133

25.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱116

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.5

$1.27 ₱77.6

4.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.6

$0.86 ₱52.8

26.74%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$1.72 ₱105

22.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱556

$8.23 ₱504

10.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱313

$4.20 ₱257

21.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱509

$7.50 ₱459

10.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱213

$2.90 ₱177

20.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱112

$1.57 ₱96.3

16.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$2.70 ₱165

35.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.55 ₱95.1

60.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$2.32 ₱142

15.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱189

$2.54 ₱155

21.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$1.06 ₱64.9

87.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.73

$0.76 ₱46.72

-7.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.60 ₱159

29.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱609

$3.85 ₱236

158.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.6

$1.21 ₱74.0

19.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.97 ₱121

9.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.48

$0.28 ₱17.33

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱738

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.1

$0.81 ₱49.72

7.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.66

$0.22 ₱13.43

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.08 ₱128

0.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.0

$1.11 ₱67.7

1.80%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$26.9K ₱1.6M

-1.26%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

14.13%

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

$136 ₱8,317

$113 ₱6,916

20.26%

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

$22.22 ₱1,360

$32.32 ₱1,979

-31.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,690

$26.39 ₱1,616

4.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,616

$34.42 ₱2,107

24.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱431

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱408

$5.76 ₱353

15.80%

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

$363 ₱22.2K

$153 ₱9,389

136.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱694.8K

$4,369 ₱267.4K

159.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,875

$45.11 ₱2,761

4.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,122

$27.01 ₱1,654

28.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,084

$75.4 ₱4,616

10.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,830

$53.7 ₱3,289

-13.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱29.9K

$267 ₱16.3K

83.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.1K

$173 ₱10.6K

51.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.4K

$323 ₱19.8K

427.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.4K

$266 ₱16.3K

135.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱270.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱154.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.1K

$147 ₱9,005

234.22%

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 25, 2026

Last update for Naga: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Manila versus $267 in Naga. 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 234% 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 $18.00 in Naga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $196 – making Naga 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 Naga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $968 in Manila, $779 in Naga – roughly 24% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,452 per month in Manila and $1,168 in Naga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Naga, 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 $968 in Manila and $779 in Naga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $153 in Naga. 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 Naga, where all-in costs run around $779, than in Manila at $968. In Naga 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 $779 in Naga to $968 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 Naga. 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.