Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Olongapo Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Olongapo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $958 per month in Manila vs $694 in Olongapo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,515 per month in Manila vs $1,029 in Olongapo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,073 per month in Manila vs $1,364 in Olongapo, rent included.

Manila costs about 38% more than Olongapo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Olongapo are more affordable than the global median – Manila 29% lower, Olongapo 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 ₱331

$3.47 ₱210

57.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 ₱1,596

$13.47 ₱818

95.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱263

$2.60 ₱158

66.15%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ₱164

$2.43 ₱148

11.52%

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

$0.91 ₱55.0

$0.65 ₱39.66

40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.41 ₱24.60

21.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 ₱91.0

$1.44 ₱87.3

4.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₱160

$1.62 ₱98.2

62.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.85 ₱112

2.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱83.8

$0.42 ₱25.56

228.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.9

$0.91 ₱55.2

18.68%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱130

$2.15 ₱131

-0.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 ₱578

$8.96 ₱544

6.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ₱324

$2.86 ₱174

86.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 ₱508

$8.66 ₱526

-3.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱206

$2.64 ₱160

28.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.05 ₱63.6

73.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱222

$2.26 ₱137

61.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱151

$1.22 ₱74.0

104.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱169

$1.83 ₱111

51.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₱185

$2.19 ₱133

39.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ₱124

$0.67 ₱40.91

204.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₱39.71

$0.42 ₱25.65

54.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ₱208

$3.36 ₱204

1.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱577

$9.17 ₱557

3.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.02 ₱62.2

41.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱130

$2.26 ₱137

-5.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.13

$0.22 ₱13.38

131.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 ₱719

$18.05 ₱1,096

-34.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱55.5

$0.87 ₱52.7

4.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.18

$0.22 ₱13.30

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱126

$2.43 ₱147

-14.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.3

$1.10 ₱66.7

5.45%

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

$26.3K ₱1.6M

$32.5K ₱2.0M

-19.28%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

10.64%

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

$136 ₱8,261

$146 ₱8,892

-7.10%

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

$22.24 ₱1,350

$34.60 ₱2,101

-35.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.14 ₱1,648

$26.33 ₱1,599

3.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ₱2,559

$15.36 ₱932

174.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ₱418

$4.39 ₱266

56.72%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱400

$4.36 ₱264

50.92%

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

$362 ₱22.0K

$89.0 ₱5,404

306.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱681.7K

$4,793 ₱291.0K

134.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.99 ₱2,853

$48.25 ₱2,930

-2.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 ₱2,148

$27.97 ₱1,698

26.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,001

$76.8 ₱4,662

7.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.51 ₱2,824

$46.47 ₱2,822

0.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₱29.8K

$126 ₱7,670

288.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.3K

$89.7 ₱5,449

198.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 ₱104.8K

$263 ₱16.0K

556.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 ₱37.7K

$176 ₱10.7K

251.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,269 ₱259.2K

$2,588 ₱157.1K

64.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,574 ₱156.3K

$1,005 ₱61.1K

155.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$487 ₱29.5K

$137 ₱8,316

255.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

4.5

67.11%

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

Last update for Manila: June 7, 2026

Last update for Olongapo: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $491 in Manila versus $126 in Olongapo. 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 255% 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 Olongapo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $182 – making Olongapo 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 Olongapo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $958 in Manila, $694 in Olongapo – roughly 38% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,437 per month in Manila and $1,041 in Olongapo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Olongapo, 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 $958 in Manila and $694 in Olongapo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 52% less in Olongapo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Olongapo, where all-in costs run around $694, than in Manila at $958. In Olongapo 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 $694 in Olongapo to $958 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 Olongapo. 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.