Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Nueva Ecija Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Nueva Ecija

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $927 per month in Manila vs $521 in Nueva Ecija, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $935 in Nueva Ecija, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,349 in Nueva Ecija, rent included.

Manila costs about 78% more than Nueva Ecija, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Nueva Ecija are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Nueva Ecija 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱322

$4.01 ₱250

28.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,613

$16.60 ₱1,035

55.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱245

$2.76 ₱172

42.39%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱157

$1.46 ₱90.8

72.60%

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

$1.36 ₱84.6

$0.57 ₱35.25

138.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.8

$0.32 ₱19.84

159.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.4

$1.01 ₱63.0

11.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱171

$1.56 ₱97.1

75.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱118

$1.61 ₱100

18.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.1

$0.90 ₱56.1

58.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.1

$0.88 ₱54.8

11.36%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱139

$1.60 ₱99.9

39.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱498

$5.18 ₱323

54.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱292

$3.46 ₱216

35.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱424

$5.67 ₱354

20.11%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱207

$2.26 ₱141

46.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$0.75 ₱46.64

144.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱186

$1.71 ₱106

74.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.04 ₱65.1

78.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱141

$1.67 ₱104

35.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱168

$1.78 ₱111

51.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$0.66 ₱41.07

218.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.65

$0.42 ₱26.35

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱200

$2.19 ₱137

46.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱599

$4.50 ₱281

113.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.6

$0.90 ₱56.0

46.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱28.89

$0.27 ₱16.78

70.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱791

$5.66 ₱353

124.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.69 ₱43.28

20.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.18 ₱11.15

27.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.03 ₱64.2

80.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.1

$0.86 ₱53.8

44.19%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$16.3K ₱1.0M

30.95%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

1.01%

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

$122 ₱7,607

$81.0 ₱5,053

50.55%

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

$14.83 ₱925

$17.83 ₱1,112

-16.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,494

$18.13 ₱1,130

32.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,648

$31.73 ₱1,979

33.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱361

$4.87 ₱304

18.89%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱429

$4.40 ₱274

56.36%

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

$621 ₱38.7K

$134 ₱8,348

363.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱552.8K

$10.6K ₱661.6K

-16.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,586

$29.60 ₱1,846

94.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,749

$19.35 ₱1,207

44.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,840

$70.8 ₱4,412

9.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,609

$56.6 ₱3,526

2.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.3K

$118 ₱7,342

353.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱17.9K

$66.8 ₱4,166

329.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.2K

$175 ₱10.9K

999.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.4K

$346 ₱21.6K

91.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱271.6K

$2,545 ₱158.7K

71.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱159.3K

$1,045 ₱65.1K

144.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.5K

$189 ₱11.8K

151.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.75

10.07%

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

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Last update for Nueva Ecija: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $118 in Nueva Ecija. 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 151% 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 $17.00 in Nueva Ecija. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $147 – making Nueva Ecija 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 Nueva Ecija: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $927 in Manila, $521 in Nueva Ecija – roughly 78% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,391 per month in Manila and $782 in Nueva Ecija. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nueva Ecija, 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 $927 in Manila and $521 in Nueva Ecija. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 124% less in Nueva Ecija. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nueva Ecija, where all-in costs run around $521, than in Manila at $927. In Nueva Ecija 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 $521 in Nueva Ecija to $927 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 Nueva Ecija. 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.