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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $984 per month in Manila vs $781 in Negros, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,549 per month in Manila vs $1,233 in Negros, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,114 per month in Manila vs $1,686 in Negros, rent included.

Manila costs about 26% more than Negros, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Negros are more affordable than the global median – Manila 26% lower, Negros 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.24 ₱323

$3.52 ₱217

48.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.22 ₱1,618

$13.17 ₱813

99.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.15 ₱194

44.13%

Cappuccino

$2.63 ₱162

$1.58 ₱97.8

66.46%

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

$0.95 ₱58.7

$0.31 ₱18.95

206.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱31.10

$0.42 ₱25.89

19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱94.1

$1.34 ₱82.7

14.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 ₱167

$2.19 ₱135

23.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱118

$2.29 ₱141

-16.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 ₱83.1

$1.53 ₱94.3

-11.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.3

$1.11 ₱68.3

-3.60%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱132

$2.35 ₱145

-8.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 ₱575

$13.05 ₱805

-28.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.17 ₱319

$5.18 ₱320

-0.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.63 ₱532

$7.51 ₱464

14.91%

Apples (1kg)

$3.51 ₱217

$3.50 ₱216

0.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱111

$1.52 ₱93.6

17.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.60 ₱222

$3.27 ₱202

10.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.42 ₱149

$2.20 ₱136

10.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 ₱166

$2.62 ₱162

2.67%

Onion (1kg)

$3.12 ₱193

$2.54 ₱157

22.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 ₱120

$0.99 ₱61.2

95.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.19

$0.77 ₱47.63

-11.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.45 ₱213

$3.13 ₱193

10.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.69 ₱598

$6.43 ₱397

50.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.20 ₱73.9

21.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.36 ₱145

-7.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 ₱30.02

$0.28 ₱17.32

75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.09 ₱746

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.7

$0.87 ₱53.8

6.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.73

$0.23 ₱14.15

17.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.69 ₱166

-22.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.5

$1.13 ₱69.9

-1.77%

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

$26.7K ₱1.6M

$30.1K ₱1.9M

-11.23%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$27.1K ₱1.7M

-17.55%

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

$135 ₱8,360

$98.7 ₱6,092

37.22%

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

$22.05 ₱1,360

$34.01 ₱2,098

-35.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.64 ₱1,706

$29.27 ₱1,806

-5.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.18 ₱2,603

$33.71 ₱2,080

25.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.78 ₱418

$4.50 ₱277

50.67%

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₱414

$6.02 ₱371

11.63%

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

$359 ₱22.1K

$227 ₱14.0K

57.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ₱694.1K

$3,960 ₱244.4K

184.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.36 ₱2,922

$45.88 ₱2,831

3.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.35 ₱2,119

$23.26 ₱1,435

47.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,084

$76.2 ₱4,702

8.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.84 ₱2,890

$54.5 ₱3,365

-14.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 ₱30.7K

$263 ₱16.2K

89.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$175 ₱10.8K

53.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,682 ₱103.8K

$580 ₱35.8K

190.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.3K

$388 ₱24.0K

63.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,330 ₱267.2K

$2,611 ₱161.1K

65.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,541 ₱156.8K

$1,054 ₱65.0K

141.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.2K

$246 ₱15.2K

92.25%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Negros: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $497 in Manila versus $263 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 92% 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 $13.00 in Negros. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 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: $984 in Manila, $781 in Negros – roughly 26% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,476 per month in Manila and $1,171 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 $984 in Manila and $781 in Negros. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $359 per month in Manila and $227 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 $781, than in Manila at $984. 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 $781 in Negros to $984 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.