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 $957 per month in Manila vs $656 in Nueva Ecija, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,080 in Nueva Ecija, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $1,504 in Nueva Ecija, rent included.

Manila costs about 46% more than Nueva Ecija, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Nueva Ecija are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Nueva Ecija 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$4.32 ₱267

22.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,672

$34.99 ₱2,158

-22.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱281

$3.27 ₱202

39.14%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱169

$1.39 ₱86.0

96.40%

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

$0.96 ₱59.4

$0.75 ₱46.48

28.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱31.01

$0.34 ₱20.82

47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.9

$0.86 ₱52.9

79.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$2.28 ₱141

16.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$2.96 ₱182

-35.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱82.1

$1.04 ₱64.1

27.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.2

$1.00 ₱61.5

7.00%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$1.70 ₱105

22.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱573

$8.13 ₱501

14.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$3.75 ₱231

38.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱527

$6.22 ₱384

37.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$4.18 ₱258

-15.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$0.78 ₱47.91

130.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$1.88 ₱116

90.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.86 ₱115

34.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$1.65 ₱102

68.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱195

$2.20 ₱136

43.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$2.39 ₱148

-17.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.24

$0.51 ₱31.47

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.44 ₱150

35.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱586

$4.38 ₱270

116.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.2

$1.38 ₱85.2

5.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.44 ₱150

-13.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.46

$0.30 ₱18.31

60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱749

$6.18 ₱381

96.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.1

$0.84 ₱51.7

4.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.68

$0.22 ₱13.54

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$1.18 ₱72.7

76.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.4

$0.95 ₱58.9

23.16%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$18.0K ₱1.1M

44.92%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$23.4K ₱1.4M

-2.49%

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

$135 ₱8,351

$87.8 ₱5,415

54.22%

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

$21.56 ₱1,330

$32.30 ₱1,992

-33.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,701

$20.32 ₱1,253

35.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$34.02 ₱2,098

21.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.44 ₱274

53.60%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱427

$5.08 ₱313

36.22%

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

$363 ₱22.4K

$151 ₱9,307

140.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱714.6K

$4,361 ₱269.0K

165.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,905

$46.26 ₱2,853

1.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,121

$34.16 ₱2,107

0.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,049

$67.7 ₱4,175

20.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,924

$116 ₱7,157

-59.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$126 ₱7,768

285.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$74.5 ₱4,592

264.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.6K

$197 ₱12.1K

779.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$141 ₱8,686

354.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱267.2K

$2,433 ₱150.0K

78.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.5K

$1,072 ₱66.1K

142.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.8K

$197 ₱12.2K

136.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.17

21.88%

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

Last update for Manila: July 11, 2026

Last update for Nueva Ecija: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Manila versus $126 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 137% 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 $35.00 in Nueva Ecija. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Manila vs $201 in Nueva Ecija – so Nueva Ecija wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $957 in Manila, $656 in Nueva Ecija – roughly 46% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Manila and $984 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 $957 in Manila and $656 in Nueva Ecija. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 97% less in Nueva Ecija. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Manila and $656 in Nueva Ecija, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $656 in Nueva Ecija to $957 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.