Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Negros Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Negros

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $967 per month in Manila vs $803 in Negros, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,531 per month in Manila vs $1,227 in Negros, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,095 per month in Manila vs $1,650 in Negros, rent included.

Manila costs about 20% more than Negros, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Negros are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Negros 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.24 ₱316

$3.62 ₱218

44.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 ₱1,582

$13.03 ₱784

101.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.41 ₱266

$3.05 ₱183

44.59%

Cappuccino

$2.66 ₱160

$1.57 ₱94.7

69.43%

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

$0.96 ₱57.8

$0.30 ₱18.30

220.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱31.92

$0.46 ₱27.62

15.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 ₱93.3

$1.30 ₱78.3

19.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 ₱159

$2.09 ₱126

26.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱114

$2.25 ₱136

-16.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱84.1

$1.57 ₱94.4

-10.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 ₱62.8

$1.15 ₱69.4

-9.57%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱129

$2.29 ₱138

-6.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱554

$12.68 ₱763

-27.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.34 ₱321

$5.30 ₱319

0.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 ₱520

$7.51 ₱452

15.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱211

$3.46 ₱208

1.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 ₱106

$1.53 ₱92.2

15.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱216

$3.33 ₱201

7.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₱147

$2.25 ₱136

8.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱169

$2.57 ₱155

9.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱190

$2.49 ₱150

26.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱121

$1.00 ₱60.5

101.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱38.73

$0.77 ₱46.44

-16.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱207

$3.15 ₱190

9.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.92 ₱597

$6.46 ₱389

53.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₱90.0

$1.15 ₱69.1

30.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 ₱134

$2.35 ₱141

-5.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.11

$0.28 ₱17.04

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.75 ₱707

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱54.8

$0.83 ₱50.1

9.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱14.91

$0.23 ₱13.83

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱125

$2.70 ₱162

-22.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱69.7

$1.14 ₱68.7

1.75%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$30.2K ₱1.8M

-11.12%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$26.7K ₱1.6M

-14.92%

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

$136 ₱8,166

$96.1 ₱5,780

41.27%

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

$21.50 ₱1,294

$34.90 ₱2,100

-38.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.91 ₱1,679

$30.18 ₱1,816

-7.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.80 ₱2,515

$34.15 ₱2,055

22.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.87 ₱413

$4.42 ₱266

55.43%

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₱397

$6.12 ₱368

7.84%

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

$360 ₱21.7K

$233 ₱14.0K

54.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ₱682.7K

$3,942 ₱237.3K

187.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 ₱2,785

$45.68 ₱2,749

1.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.85 ₱2,097

$23.47 ₱1,412

48.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.4 ₱5,019

$76.2 ₱4,587

9.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.07 ₱2,773

$55.3 ₱3,330

-16.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 ₱29.3K

$269 ₱16.2K

81.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 ₱16.3K

$177 ₱10.7K

52.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,707 ₱102.7K

$582 ₱35.1K

193.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 ₱37.7K

$392 ₱23.6K

59.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,407 ₱265.2K

$2,228 ₱134.1K

97.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,637 ₱158.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$462 ₱27.8K

$245 ₱14.8K

88.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

7.43%

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

Last update for Manila: April 20, 2026

Last update for Negros: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Manila versus $269 in Negros. 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 88% 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 in Manila versus $13 in Negros. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $240 – making Negros 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 Negros: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $967 in Manila, $803 in Negros – roughly 20% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,450 per month in Manila and $1,205 in Negros. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Negros, 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 $967 in Manila and $803 in Negros. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $360 per month in Manila and $233 in Negros. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Negros, where all-in costs run around $803, than in Manila at $967. In Negros 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 $803 in Negros to $967 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 Negros. 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.