Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Ozamiz Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Ozamiz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $712 in Ozamiz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,506 per month in Manila vs $1,080 in Ozamiz, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,052 per month in Manila vs $1,448 in Ozamiz, rent included.

Manila costs about 35% more than Ozamiz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Ozamiz are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, Ozamiz 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱340

$3.63 ₱227

49.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,663

$16.45 ₱1,031

61.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$2.64 ₱166

48.48%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱157

$2.22 ₱139

13.06%

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

$1.39 ₱86.9

$0.57 ₱35.61

143.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.28 ₱17.41

196.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.0

$1.03 ₱64.7

12.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.99 ₱125

37.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.53 ₱95.6

23.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.7

$0.77 ₱48.17

81.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱61.9

$0.79 ₱49.27

25.32%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$2.10 ₱132

10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱489

$5.50 ₱345

42.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱309

$3.50 ₱220

40.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱446

$7.50 ₱470

-5.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$2.38 ₱149

35.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱118

$0.77 ₱47.96

145.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.13 ₱134

41.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱114

$1.09 ₱68.6

66.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$2.19 ₱137

1.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱164

$2.68 ₱168

-2.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$0.74 ₱46.53

193.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.08

$0.56 ₱35.15

5.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱199

$2.82 ₱176

12.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱597

$8.86 ₱555

7.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.4

$0.93 ₱58.5

37.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$1.90 ₱119

6.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.22

$0.29 ₱18.34

62.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱805

$10.85 ₱680

18.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.21

$0.87 ₱54.8

-11.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.21 ₱13.42

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

$1.69 ₱106

15.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.5

$0.99 ₱62.1

28.28%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$22.8K ₱1.4M

-5.88%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$17.0K ₱1.1M

15.34%

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

$122 ₱7,632

$131 ₱8,223

-7.19%

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

$15.16 ₱950

$13.70 ₱858

10.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,504

$24.82 ₱1,556

-3.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,670

$27.33 ₱1,713

55.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱357

$4.69 ₱294

21.32%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱431

$5.59 ₱350

23.08%

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

$618 ₱38.7K

$138 ₱8,619

349.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱555.4K

$8,480 ₱531.4K

4.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,655

$34.63 ₱2,170

68.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,749

$20.05 ₱1,256

39.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,877

$61.3 ₱3,838

27.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,664

$54.1 ₱3,389

8.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.1K

$266 ₱16.7K

104.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$163 ₱10.2K

74.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.8K

$490 ₱30.7K

293.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.2K

$343 ₱21.5K

96.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱275.5K

$2,271 ₱142.3K

93.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.4K

$918 ₱57.6K

175.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

$192 ₱12.0K

148.43%

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 12, 2026

Last update for Ozamiz: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Manila versus $266 in Ozamiz. 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 148% 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 $16.00 in Ozamiz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $169 – making Ozamiz 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 Ozamiz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $959 in Manila, $712 in Ozamiz – roughly 35% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,439 per month in Manila and $1,068 in Ozamiz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ozamiz, 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 $712 in Ozamiz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 18% less in Ozamiz. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ozamiz, where all-in costs run around $712, than in Manila at $959. In Ozamiz 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 $712 in Ozamiz 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 Ozamiz. 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.