Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Palawan Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Palawan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $778 in Palawan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,221 in Palawan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,664 in Palawan, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$3.57 ₱220

50.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$19.25 ₱1,187

39.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.41 ₱210

27.27%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.61 ₱161

5.36%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.77 ₱47.45

24.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.40 ₱24.37

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.25 ₱77.0

19.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.12 ₱131

23.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.91 ₱118

-1.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.22 ₱75.1

13.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$1.00 ₱61.8

5.00%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.10 ₱129

3.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$8.14 ₱502

18.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.16 ₱256

24.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.55 ₱465

10.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.85 ₱176

22.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.52 ₱93.6

18.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.59 ₱160

38.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.62 ₱99.9

53.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.29 ₱141

20.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.59 ₱159

16.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.06 ₱65.6

89.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.72 ₱44.51

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.82 ₱174

17.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$6.94 ₱428

40.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.16 ₱71.3

28.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$2.03 ₱125

5.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.26 ₱15.82

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.76 ₱47.17

13.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.22 ₱13.54

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.14 ₱70.2

1.75%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$26.9K ₱1.7M

-2.63%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

10.45%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$111 ₱6,825

24.97%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$32.27 ₱1,990

-31.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$27.45 ₱1,693

0.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$33.41 ₱2,060

23.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.38 ₱270

57.31%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$5.92 ₱365

11.15%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$149 ₱9,188

139.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,328 ₱266.9K

165.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$45.65 ₱2,815

1.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$26.52 ₱1,635

32.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$74.2 ₱4,575

11.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$54.1 ₱3,336

-15.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$266 ₱16.4K

87.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$180 ₱11.1K

47.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$585 ₱36.1K

187.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$402 ₱24.8K

58.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,357 ₱145.4K

85.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$964 ₱59.5K

163.86%

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 Palawan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $266 in Palawan. 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 $19.00 in Palawan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $202 – making Palawan 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 Palawan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $959 in Manila, $778 in Palawan – roughly 23% 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 $1,166 in Palawan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Palawan, 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 $778 in Palawan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $149 in Palawan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Palawan, where all-in costs run around $778, than in Manila at $959. In Palawan 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 $778 in Palawan 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 Palawan. 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.