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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $958 per month in Manila vs $836 in Pangasinan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,515 per month in Manila vs $1,267 in Pangasinan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,073 per month in Manila vs $1,699 in Pangasinan, rent included.

Manila costs about 15% more than Pangasinan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Pangasinan are more affordable than the global median – Manila 29% lower, Pangasinan 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 ₱331

$1.31 ₱79.3

316.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 ₱1,596

$15.15 ₱920

73.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱263

$3.15 ₱191

37.14%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ₱164

$0.94 ₱57.2

188.30%

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

$0.91 ₱55.0

$0.42 ₱25.75

116.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.26 ₱15.59

92.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 ₱91.0

$1.39 ₱84.6

7.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₱160

$2.08 ₱127

26.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.26 ₱76.7

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱83.8

$0.87 ₱53.0

58.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.9

$0.81 ₱49.17

33.33%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱130

$2.24 ₱136

-4.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 ₱578

$8.23 ₱500

15.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ₱324

$4.43 ₱269

20.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 ₱508

$7.98 ₱484

4.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱206

$4.57 ₱278

-25.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$2.00 ₱122

-9.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱222

$2.69 ₱163

36.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱151

$2.25 ₱137

10.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱169

$3.28 ₱199

-15.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₱185

$2.86 ₱174

6.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ₱124

$1.08 ₱65.7

88.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₱39.71

$1.00 ₱60.9

-35.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ₱208

$2.86 ₱174

19.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱577

$8.21 ₱498

15.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.24 ₱75.3

16.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱130

$2.24 ₱136

-4.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.13

$0.26 ₱15.67

96.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 ₱719

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱55.5

$0.81 ₱49.24

12.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.18

$0.14 ₱8.36

78.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱126

$3.45 ₱210

-39.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.3

$1.15 ₱69.8

0.87%

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

$26.3K ₱1.6M

$33.5K ₱2.0M

-21.58%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$21.8K ₱1.3M

2.83%

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

$136 ₱8,261

$173 ₱10.5K

-21.42%

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

$22.24 ₱1,350

$27.38 ₱1,663

-18.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.14 ₱1,648

$35.46 ₱2,153

-23.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ₱2,559

$34.45 ₱2,092

22.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ₱418

$4.33 ₱263

58.89%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱400

$8.22 ₱499

-19.95%

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

$362 ₱22.0K

$151 ₱9,173

139.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱681.7K

$4,392 ₱266.7K

155.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.99 ₱2,853

$58.4 ₱3,545

-19.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 ₱2,148

$35.92 ₱2,181

-1.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,001

$85.5 ₱5,190

-3.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.51 ₱2,824

$52.8 ₱3,204

-11.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₱29.8K

$263 ₱16.0K

86.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.3K

$177 ₱10.8K

50.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 ₱104.8K

$590 ₱35.8K

192.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 ₱37.7K

$400 ₱24.3K

55.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,269 ₱259.2K

$2,469 ₱149.9K

72.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,574 ₱156.3K

$965 ₱58.6K

166.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$487 ₱29.5K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Pangasinan: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $491 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 $15.00 in Pangasinan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $220 – 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: $958 in Manila, $836 in Pangasinan – roughly 15% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,437 per month in Manila and $1,253 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 $958 in Manila and $836 in Pangasinan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $362 per month in Manila and $151 in Pangasinan. 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 Pangasinan, where all-in costs run around $836, than in Manila at $958. 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 $836 in Pangasinan to $958 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.