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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $787 in Negros, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,232 in Negros, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,677 in Negros, rent included.

Manila costs about 22% more than Negros, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Negros are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Negros 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$3.53 ₱218

52.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,656

$13.19 ₱814

103.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱268

$3.05 ₱188

42.30%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$1.63 ₱101

68.71%

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

$0.96 ₱59.0

$0.33 ₱20.63

190.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.59

$0.42 ₱26.16

19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.30 ₱80.4

14.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.18 ₱134

19.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱117

$2.29 ₱141

-17.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.4

$1.50 ₱92.6

-8.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$1.17 ₱72.2

-10.26%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.34 ₱144

-6.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$12.67 ₱782

-24.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$5.20 ₱321

-0.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.91 ₱488

5.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$3.64 ₱225

-3.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.52 ₱93.5

18.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$3.44 ₱212

4.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$2.19 ₱135

13.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱171

$2.62 ₱162

5.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.44 ₱151

24.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.00 ₱61.4

101.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.61

$0.80 ₱49.15

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$3.27 ₱202

1.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$6.47 ₱400

50.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.16 ₱71.6

28.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$2.35 ₱145

-8.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.94

$0.26 ₱15.85

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱741

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.84 ₱51.5

2.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.38

$0.25 ₱15.53

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.71 ₱168

-20.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.9

$1.13 ₱70.0

2.65%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$29.9K ₱1.8M

-12.52%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$27.4K ₱1.7M

-16.96%

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

$138 ₱8,537

$98.5 ₱6,082

40.38%

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

$22.24 ₱1,373

$33.99 ₱2,098

-34.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,710

$29.82 ₱1,840

-7.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,556

$34.07 ₱2,103

21.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱426

$4.44 ₱274

55.18%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$6.04 ₱373

8.94%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$228 ₱14.1K

56.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱708.0K

$3,913 ₱241.5K

193.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,865

$45.23 ₱2,792

2.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,168

$22.72 ₱1,402

54.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,086

$75.7 ₱4,671

8.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,825

$55.7 ₱3,438

-17.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$266 ₱16.4K

87.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$174 ₱10.8K

51.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.9K

$587 ₱36.2K

186.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$401 ₱24.8K

58.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.7K

$2,558 ₱157.9K

70.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱157.0K

$1,078 ₱66.5K

136.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$246 ₱15.2K

95.54%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Negros: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $266 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 96% 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 $13.00 in Negros. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $241 – 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: $959 in Manila, $787 in Negros – roughly 22% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $1,180 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 $959 in Manila and $787 in Negros. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $228 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 $787, than in Manila at $959. 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 $787 in Negros to $959 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.