Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Pagadian Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Pagadian

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $776 in Pagadian, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,092 in Pagadian, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $1,408 in Pagadian, rent included.

Manila costs about 23% more than Pagadian, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Pagadian are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Pagadian 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$3.49 ₱215

51.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$17.85 ₱1,099

51.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$3.22 ₱198

41.30%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$2.90 ₱178

-5.86%

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

$0.96 ₱59.2

$0.96 ₱58.8

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.46 ₱28.18

8.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.08 ₱66.5

42.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$1.73 ₱107

53.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.72 ₱106

10.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$1.07 ₱66.0

24.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$1.03 ₱63.3

3.88%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$2.05 ₱126

1.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$8.19 ₱504

13.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$4.87 ₱300

6.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱526

$5.85 ₱360

46.15%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$3.46 ₱213

2.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.12 ₱68.9

60.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$3.36 ₱207

6.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.38 ₱85.1

81.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$2.65 ₱163

4.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$3.41 ₱210

-7.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.10 ₱67.9

80.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.75 ₱46.39

-9.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.60 ₱160

27.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$8.31 ₱511

14.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.04 ₱64.3

40.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.47 ₱90.4

43.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.28 ₱17.29

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

$7.15 ₱440

69.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.77 ₱47.55

14.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.22 ₱13.53

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.10 ₱129

-0.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.25 ₱76.9

-6.40%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$26.7K ₱1.6M

-2.43%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

10.73%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$93.9 ₱5,784

44.16%

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

$21.56 ₱1,327

$32.31 ₱1,989

-33.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$26.98 ₱1,661

2.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$33.52 ₱2,064

23.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.31 ₱265

58.24%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$5.79 ₱356

19.52%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$154 ₱9,480

135.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$4,303 ₱264.9K

169.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$46.08 ₱2,837

2.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$26.28 ₱1,618

30.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$74.2 ₱4,569

10.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$52.2 ₱3,213

-9.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$112 ₱6,883

334.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$176 ₱10.8K

54.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$245 ₱15.1K

605.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$153 ₱9,426

318.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$2,755 ₱169.6K

57.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$908 ₱55.9K

186.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.67

12.74%

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

Last update for Manila: July 11, 2026

Last update for Pagadian: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Manila versus $112 in Pagadian. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $18.00 in Pagadian. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $204 – making Pagadian 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 Pagadian: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $957 in Manila, $776 in Pagadian – roughly 23% 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 $1,165 in Pagadian. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pagadian, 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 $776 in Pagadian. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 70% less in Pagadian. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Manila and $776 in Pagadian, 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 $776 in Pagadian 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 Pagadian. 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.