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 $959 per month in Manila vs $663 in Nueva Ecija, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,064 in Nueva Ecija, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,465 in Nueva Ecija, rent included.

Manila costs about 45% 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

$5.38 ₱332

$4.40 ₱271

22.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$35.35 ₱2,180

-24.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.41 ₱210

27.27%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$1.33 ₱82.1

106.77%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.76 ₱46.99

26.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.34 ₱20.68

47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$0.85 ₱52.3

75.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.32 ₱143

12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$2.98 ₱184

-36.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.05 ₱64.7

31.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.92 ₱56.9

14.13%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$1.72 ₱106

26.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$7.83 ₱483

22.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$3.82 ₱236

35.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$6.37 ₱393

30.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$4.16 ₱256

-15.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$0.83 ₱51.0

116.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$1.92 ₱119

86.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.77 ₱109

40.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$1.67 ₱103

65.27%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.18 ₱135

38.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$2.37 ₱146

-15.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.51 ₱31.71

25.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.53 ₱156

31.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$4.38 ₱270

122.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.34 ₱82.4

11.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$2.44 ₱150

-11.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.32 ₱19.87

62.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

$6.10 ₱376

96.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.77 ₱47.32

11.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.22 ₱13.47

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$1.12 ₱69.1

92.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$0.95 ₱58.7

22.11%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$17.5K ₱1.1M

49.69%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$23.5K ₱1.4M

-3.29%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$88.9 ₱5,480

55.64%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$32.35 ₱1,995

-31.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$20.29 ₱1,251

36.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$33.41 ₱2,060

23.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.31 ₱266

59.86%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$5.10 ₱314

29.02%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$153 ₱9,451

132.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,346 ₱268.0K

163.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$45.11 ₱2,781

2.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$33.85 ₱2,088

3.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$67.5 ₱4,163

22.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$114 ₱7,053

-59.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$128 ₱7,890

290.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$76.1 ₱4,692

247.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$195 ₱12.0K

764.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$140 ₱8,637

353.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,421 ₱149.3K

80.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$962 ₱59.3K

164.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$195 ₱12.0K

146.49%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Nueva Ecija: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $128 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 146% 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 – $242 in Manila vs $200 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: $959 in Manila, $663 in Nueva Ecija – roughly 45% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $994 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 $959 in Manila and $663 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nueva Ecija, where all-in costs run around $663, than in Manila at $959. 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 $663 in Nueva Ecija 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 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.