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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $958 per month in Manila vs $804 in Panglao, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,515 per month in Manila vs $1,222 in Panglao, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,073 per month in Manila vs $1,640 in Panglao, rent included.

Manila costs about 19% more than Panglao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Panglao are more affordable than the global median – Manila 29% lower, Panglao 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 ₱331

$4.54 ₱276

20.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 ₱1,596

$12.24 ₱743

114.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱263

$4.56 ₱277

-5.26%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ₱164

$2.55 ₱155

6.27%

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

$0.91 ₱55.0

$0.81 ₱49.25

12.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.26 ₱15.71

92.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 ₱91.0

$1.55 ₱94.0

-3.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₱160

$1.93 ₱117

36.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.74 ₱106

8.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱83.8

$1.04 ₱63.2

32.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.9

$1.03 ₱62.8

4.85%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱130

$1.91 ₱116

12.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 ₱578

$9.57 ₱581

-0.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ₱324

$5.28 ₱320

0.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 ₱508

$7.74 ₱470

8.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱206

$2.17 ₱132

56.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.47 ₱89.2

23.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱222

$2.09 ₱127

75.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱151

$1.98 ₱120

25.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱169

$2.57 ₱156

8.17%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₱185

$2.56 ₱155

19.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ₱124

$1.00 ₱60.5

104.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₱39.71

$0.51 ₱31.02

27.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ₱208

$2.73 ₱166

25.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱577

$5.34 ₱324

77.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$0.89 ₱53.8

61.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱130

$1.75 ₱106

22.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.13

$0.28 ₱17.06

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 ₱719

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱55.5

$0.89 ₱54.1

2.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.18

$0.23 ₱13.90

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱126

$2.72 ₱165

-23.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.3

$1.04 ₱62.9

11.54%

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

$26.3K ₱1.6M

$30.0K ₱1.8M

-12.35%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$27.4K ₱1.7M

-18.47%

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

$136 ₱8,261

$96.3 ₱5,844

41.35%

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

$22.24 ₱1,350

$9.07 ₱551

145.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.14 ₱1,648

$26.96 ₱1,637

0.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ₱2,559

$14.83 ₱901

184.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ₱418

$4.35 ₱264

58.16%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱400

$4.38 ₱266

50.23%

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

$362 ₱22.0K

$229 ₱13.9K

57.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱681.7K

$3,923 ₱238.2K

186.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.99 ₱2,853

$46.19 ₱2,805

1.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 ₱2,148

$23.10 ₱1,403

53.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,001

$74.5 ₱4,524

10.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.51 ₱2,824

$52.5 ₱3,187

-11.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₱29.8K

$328 ₱19.9K

49.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.3K

$284 ₱17.2K

-5.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 ₱104.8K

$698 ₱42.4K

147.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 ₱37.7K

$495 ₱30.1K

25.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,269 ₱259.2K

$964 ₱58.6K

342.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,574 ₱156.3K

$861 ₱52.3K

198.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$487 ₱29.5K

$130 ₱7,887

274.62%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Panglao: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $491 in Manila versus $328 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 275% 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $12.00 in Panglao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $197 – 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: $958 in Manila, $804 in Panglao – roughly 19% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,437 per month in Manila and $1,207 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 $958 in Manila and $804 in Panglao. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $362 per month in Manila and $229 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 $804, than in Manila at $958. 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 $804 in Panglao 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 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.