Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Pangasinan Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Pangasinan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $927 per month in Manila vs $801 in Pangasinan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $1,188 in Pangasinan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,576 in Pangasinan, rent included.

Manila costs about 16% more than Pangasinan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Pangasinan are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Pangasinan 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱324

$1.17 ₱73.3

341.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,622

$13.62 ₱854

89.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱246

$4.02 ₱252

-2.24%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱158

$2.71 ₱170

-7.01%

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

$1.36 ₱85.1

$1.13 ₱71.0

20.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.45 ₱28.50

84.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.8

$0.83 ₱52.2

36.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$3.11 ₱195

-11.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱119

$1.09 ₱68.2

74.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.6

$0.83 ₱52.1

72.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$0.79 ₱49.76

24.05%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱140

$2.47 ₱155

-9.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱501

$7.42 ₱465

7.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱294

$5.00 ₱314

-6.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱427

$6.83 ₱428

-0.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱208

$2.27 ₱143

46.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱115

$1.95 ₱122

-6.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱187

$3.30 ₱207

-9.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$2.33 ₱146

-20.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱142

$3.66 ₱230

-38.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱169

$3.49 ₱219

-22.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱132

$1.13 ₱70.9

85.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.84

$0.56 ₱35.28

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱201

$2.71 ₱170

18.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱602

$8.17 ₱513

17.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱83.0

$1.35 ₱84.6

-2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱132

$2.06 ₱129

1.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱29.05

$0.25 ₱15.51

84.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱795

$11.08 ₱695

14.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.61 ₱38.38

36.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.47

$0.23 ₱14.46

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱117

$1.93 ₱121

-3.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.6

$1.00 ₱62.8

24.00%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₱1.4M

-1.32%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-1.29%

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

$122 ₱7,649

$154 ₱9,674

-20.93%

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

$14.83 ₱930

$15.90 ₱997

-6.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,502

$31.90 ₱2,000

-24.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,663

$32.12 ₱2,014

32.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱363

$4.85 ₱304

19.38%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱431

$7.11 ₱446

-3.23%

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

$621 ₱38.9K

$132 ₱8,301

369.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱555.9K

$7,555 ₱473.7K

17.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,605

$32.11 ₱2,013

79.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,758

$19.51 ₱1,223

43.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,866

$82.5 ₱5,175

-5.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,629

$55.1 ₱3,452

5.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.5K

$263 ₱16.5K

102.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱18.0K

$171 ₱10.7K

67.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$508 ₱31.9K

279.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.6K

$353 ₱22.1K

88.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱273.1K

$2,582 ₱161.9K

68.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱160.2K

$1,058 ₱66.4K

141.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

7.5

-0.93%

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

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Last update for Pangasinan: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $263 in Pangasinan. 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 $14.00 in Pangasinan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $204 – making Pangasinan 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 Pangasinan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $927 in Manila, $801 in Pangasinan – roughly 16% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,391 per month in Manila and $1,201 in Pangasinan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pangasinan, 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 $927 in Manila and $801 in Pangasinan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 14% less in Pangasinan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pangasinan, where all-in costs run around $801, than in Manila at $927. In Pangasinan 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 $801 in Pangasinan to $927 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 Pangasinan. 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.