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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $700 in Olongapo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,026 in Olongapo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,353 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 28% lower, Olongapo 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$3.64 ₱224

48.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$13.43 ₱829

99.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$2.64 ₱163

71.97%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$2.46 ₱152

6.50%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.70 ₱42.97

40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.38 ₱23.30

42.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.38 ₱85.3

7.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$1.64 ₱101

66.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$1.84 ₱114

6.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$0.43 ₱26.38

225.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$0.86 ₱53.2

19.77%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.15 ₱133

-3.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$8.94 ₱552

1.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$2.76 ₱170

88.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$8.39 ₱517

3.69%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$2.66 ₱164

27.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.04 ₱64.1

74.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$2.26 ₱139

61.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.18 ₱72.7

113.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$1.83 ₱113

53.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$2.24 ₱138

37.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$0.71 ₱43.99

180.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.46 ₱28.24

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$3.35 ₱207

2.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$9.28 ₱572

7.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.07 ₱65.9

39.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.24 ₱138

-2.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.22 ₱13.59

118.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

$18.04 ₱1,113

-34.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.85 ₱52.5

9.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.22 ₱13.55

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.35 ₱145

-8.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.15 ₱71.0

-2.61%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$31.6K ₱1.9M

-15.79%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

10.70%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$146 ₱8,990

-7.61%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$34.12 ₱2,104

-35.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$26.67 ₱1,645

4.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$15.37 ₱948

173.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$5.40 ₱333

29.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$4.48 ₱277

50.22%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$88.0 ₱5,428

315.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$4,731 ₱291.8K

144.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$49.67 ₱3,064

-5.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$27.09 ₱1,671

29.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$75.5 ₱4,659

8.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$45.87 ₱2,829

0.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$122 ₱7,529

300.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$88.9 ₱5,480

203.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$264 ₱16.3K

538.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$175 ₱10.8K

259.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

$333 ₱20.5K

692.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$139 ₱8,576

225.32%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Olongapo: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $122 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 225% 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 Olongapo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 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: $963 in Manila, $700 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 $1,444 per month in Manila and $1,050 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 $963 in Manila and $700 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 $700, than in Manila at $963. 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 $700 in Olongapo to $963 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.