Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Panglao Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Panglao

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $833 in Panglao, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,220 in Panglao, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,608 in Panglao, rent included.

Manila costs about 16% more than Panglao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Panglao are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Panglao 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$4.53 ₱280

18.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$12.46 ₱769

115.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$4.41 ₱272

2.95%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$2.53 ₱156

3.56%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.84 ₱51.6

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.28 ₱17.29

92.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.55 ₱95.7

-4.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$1.94 ₱119

40.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$1.73 ₱107

13.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.07 ₱66.1

30.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$1.04 ₱64.3

-0.96%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$1.97 ₱122

5.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$9.21 ₱568

-1.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$7.69 ₱475

13.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$2.11 ₱130

61.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.46 ₱89.9

23.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$2.17 ₱134

68.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.98 ₱122

27.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$2.56 ₱158

9.77%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$2.56 ₱158

20.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$0.91 ₱56.4

118.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.48 ₱29.56

43.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$2.71 ₱167

26.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$5.57 ₱343

79.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$0.93 ₱57.1

60.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.73 ₱107

26.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.26 ₱15.88

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.88 ₱54.0

5.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.23 ₱14.09

17.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.69 ₱166

-19.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.08 ₱66.5

3.70%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$30.3K ₱1.9M

-12.42%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$27.6K ₱1.7M

-16.87%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$98.6 ₱6,079

36.63%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$8.65 ₱534

154.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$26.57 ₱1,639

5.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$14.57 ₱898

188.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$4.40 ₱271

59.09%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$4.48 ₱276

50.22%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$230 ₱14.2K

58.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$3,908 ₱241.0K

195.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$45.71 ₱2,819

2.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$23.12 ₱1,426

51.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$74.2 ₱4,579

10.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$53.8 ₱3,316

-14.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$329 ₱20.3K

48.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$277 ₱17.1K

-2.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$706 ₱43.6K

138.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$512 ₱31.6K

23.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

$983 ₱60.6K

340.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

$870 ₱53.7K

203.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$132 ₱8,123

243.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

-6.00%

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

Last update for Manila: April 27, 2026

Last update for Panglao: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $329 in Panglao. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 243% higher in Manila, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $12.00 in Panglao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $196 – making Panglao 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 Panglao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $963 in Manila, $833 in Panglao – roughly 16% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $1,250 in Panglao. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Panglao, 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 $963 in Manila and $833 in Panglao. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $365 per month in Manila and $230 in Panglao. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Panglao, where all-in costs run around $833, than in Manila at $963. In Panglao 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 $833 in Panglao to $963 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 Panglao. 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.