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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $760 in Pagadian, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,074 in Pagadian, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,389 in Pagadian, rent included.

Manila costs about 26% more than Pagadian, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Pagadian are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Pagadian 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$3.57 ₱220

50.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$18.01 ₱1,110

48.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.20 ₱197

35.62%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.90 ₱179

-5.17%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.93 ₱57.1

3.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.43 ₱26.38

16.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.08 ₱66.3

37.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.76 ₱108

48.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.71 ₱106

10.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.07 ₱66.1

28.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.97 ₱59.8

8.25%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.03 ₱125

7.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$8.25 ₱508

16.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.98 ₱307

4.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$5.85 ₱361

42.22%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$3.64 ₱224

-3.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.12 ₱69.3

60.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$3.42 ₱211

4.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.34 ₱82.4

85.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.65 ₱164

4.15%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$3.46 ₱213

-12.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.07 ₱66.1

87.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.70 ₱43.42

-8.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.71 ₱167

22.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$7.91 ₱488

23.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.05 ₱64.6

41.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.54 ₱94.8

39.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.26 ₱16.03

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

$7.18 ₱443

67.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.82 ₱50.9

4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.24 ₱14.87

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.10 ₱129

2.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.19 ₱73.2

-2.52%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$26.9K ₱1.7M

-2.42%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

12.35%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$96.0 ₱5,919

44.11%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$33.16 ₱2,045

-32.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$27.38 ₱1,688

1.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$33.61 ₱2,072

23.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.53 ₱279

52.10%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$5.95 ₱367

10.59%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$149 ₱9,190

139.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,359 ₱268.8K

163.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$45.37 ₱2,798

2.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$26.79 ₱1,652

31.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$74.5 ₱4,592

10.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$53.1 ₱3,271

-13.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$113 ₱6,956

342.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$177 ₱10.9K

49.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$248 ₱15.3K

577.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$150 ₱9,271

322.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,118 ₱130.6K

106.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$966 ₱59.6K

163.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Pagadian: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $113 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: $242 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: $959 in Manila, $760 in Pagadian – roughly 26% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $1,140 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 $959 in Manila and $760 in Pagadian. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 67% 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 $760, than in Manila at $959. 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 $760 in Pagadian 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 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.