Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Pasig Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Pasig

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $875 in Pasig, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,398 in Pasig, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,922 in Pasig, rent included.

Manila costs about 10% more than Pasig, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Pasig are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Pasig 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$4.45 ₱275

21.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$26.14 ₱1,612

2.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.44 ₱212

31.98%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.69 ₱42.43

42.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.40 ₱24.78

35.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.55 ₱95.3

-4.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.67 ₱165

2.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$1.84 ₱113

6.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.40 ₱86.4

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$1.08 ₱66.8

-4.63%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.29 ₱141

-9.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$9.23 ₱569

-1.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$4.26 ₱263

22.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$8.76 ₱541

-0.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$3.43 ₱212

-0.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.80 ₱111

0.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$3.56 ₱219

2.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.72 ₱106

46.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$2.67 ₱165

5.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$3.15 ₱194

-1.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$1.95 ₱120

2.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.78 ₱47.87

-11.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$3.33 ₱206

3.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$9.68 ₱597

3.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.46 ₱90.0

2.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.11 ₱130

3.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.26 ₱16.01

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

$6.12 ₱377

93.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.90 ₱55.7

3.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.24 ₱14.81

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.09 ₱129

3.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.11 ₱68.6

0.90%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$26.8K ₱1.6M

-0.66%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.3K ₱1.2M

13.34%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$135 ₱8,354

-0.57%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$34.75 ₱2,144

-36.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$27.37 ₱1,688

2.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$34.29 ₱2,115

22.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$4.49 ₱277

55.90%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$6.52 ₱402

3.22%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$153 ₱9,456

138.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$4,694 ₱289.5K

146.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$47.89 ₱2,954

-1.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$34.94 ₱2,155

0.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$75.6 ₱4,661

8.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$46.02 ₱2,838

-0.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$356 ₱22.0K

37.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$202 ₱12.4K

33.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$579 ₱35.7K

191.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$495 ₱30.5K

27.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

$3,390 ₱209.1K

27.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

$2,617 ₱161.4K

0.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$465 ₱28.7K

-2.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

4.5

67.11%

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

Last update for Manila: April 27, 2026

Last update for Pasig: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $356 in Pasig. 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 3% higher in Pasig, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $26.00 in Pasig. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $234 – making Pasig 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 Pasig: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $963 in Manila, $875 in Pasig – roughly 10% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $1,312 in Pasig. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pasig, 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 $875 in Pasig. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 93% less in Pasig. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pasig, where all-in costs run around $875, than in Manila at $963. In Pasig 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 $875 in Pasig 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 Pasig. 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.