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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $934 per month in Manila vs $730 in Pagadian, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,491 per month in Manila vs $1,099 in Pagadian, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,048 per month in Manila vs $1,468 in Pagadian, rent included.

Manila costs about 28% more than Pagadian, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Pagadian are more affordable than the global median – Manila 32% lower, Pagadian 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.70 ₱356

$3.82 ₱239

49.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.88 ₱1,618

$17.08 ₱1,068

51.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 ₱257

$2.85 ₱178

44.21%

Cappuccino

$2.49 ₱155

$1.95 ₱122

27.69%

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

$1.37 ₱85.5

$0.82 ₱51.3

67.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₱52.4

$0.23 ₱14.27

265.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₱71.6

$1.46 ₱91.1

-21.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 ₱167

$1.92 ₱120

39.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.71 ₱107

10.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ₱91.3

$1.21 ₱75.4

20.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱61.7

$0.90 ₱56.0

10.00%

Eggs

$2.32 ₱145

$1.85 ₱116

25.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 ₱491

$4.73 ₱296

65.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 ₱310

$4.16 ₱260

19.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.07 ₱442

$6.85 ₱428

3.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱212

$2.49 ₱156

36.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 ₱121

$1.45 ₱90.8

33.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱188

$2.42 ₱151

24.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 ₱111

$1.13 ₱70.4

57.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 ₱140

$2.28 ₱143

-1.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 ₱162

$2.23 ₱140

16.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 ₱133

$0.80 ₱49.75

165.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.90

$0.56 ₱34.76

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 ₱190

$2.94 ₱184

3.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 ₱616

$7.96 ₱498

23.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.0

$0.96 ₱60.3

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱132

$2.01 ₱126

4.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.23

$0.25 ₱15.56

88.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.73 ₱796

$11.31 ₱707

12.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.69 ₱42.95

20.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.42

$0.23 ₱14.40

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 ₱124

$1.93 ₱120

2.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.4

$1.05 ₱65.4

18.10%

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

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$24.6K ₱1.5M

-11.59%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

-4.49%

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

$121 ₱7,598

$124 ₱7,751

-1.98%

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

$15.06 ₱942

$16.40 ₱1,026

-8.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.90 ₱1,495

$26.48 ₱1,656

-9.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.84 ₱2,742

$31.92 ₱1,996

37.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.97 ₱374

$4.80 ₱300

24.38%

Cinema Ticket

$7.03 ₱440

$5.40 ₱338

30.19%

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

$629 ₱39.4K

$153 ₱9,562

311.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,036 ₱565.1K

$7,142 ₱446.7K

26.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 ₱3,699

$33.99 ₱2,126

73.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.07 ₱1,756

$21.15 ₱1,323

32.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 ₱4,725

$67.9 ₱4,249

11.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,621

$60.2 ₱3,762

-3.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$537 ₱33.6K

$271 ₱16.9K

98.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 ₱17.7K

$151 ₱9,456

86.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,898 ₱118.7K

$503 ₱31.5K

277.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$671 ₱41.9K

$350 ₱21.9K

91.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,351 ₱272.1K

$2,279 ₱142.5K

90.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,494 ₱156.0K

$1,165 ₱72.9K

114.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$484 ₱30.3K

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Pagadian: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $537 in Manila versus $271 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $17.00 in Pagadian. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $178 – 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: $934 in Manila, $730 in Pagadian – roughly 28% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,401 per month in Manila and $1,095 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 $934 in Manila and $730 in Pagadian. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% less in Pagadian. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pagadian, where all-in costs run around $730, than in Manila at $934. In Pagadian 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 $730 in Pagadian to $934 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.