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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $958 per month in Manila vs $876 in Pasig, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,515 per month in Manila vs $1,408 in Pasig, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,073 per month in Manila vs $1,939 in Pasig, rent included.

Manila costs about 9% more than Pasig, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Pasig are more affordable than the global median – Manila 29% lower, Pasig 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 ₱331

$4.47 ₱271

21.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 ₱1,596

$26.77 ₱1,625

-1.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱263

$3.28 ₱199

31.71%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ₱164

$2.62 ₱159

3.44%

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

$0.91 ₱55.0

$0.66 ₱39.90

37.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.40 ₱24.42

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 ₱91.0

$1.49 ₱90.4

0.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₱160

$2.60 ₱158

1.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.91 ₱116

-1.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱83.8

$1.39 ₱84.5

-0.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.9

$1.07 ₱65.2

0.93%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱130

$2.19 ₱133

-2.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 ₱578

$9.10 ₱553

4.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ₱324

$4.13 ₱251

29.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 ₱508

$8.29 ₱504

0.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱206

$3.49 ₱212

-2.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.84 ₱112

-1.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱222

$3.60 ₱219

1.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱151

$1.75 ₱106

42.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱169

$2.74 ₱166

1.46%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₱185

$3.06 ₱186

-0.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ₱124

$2.02 ₱122

0.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₱39.71

$0.71 ₱43.31

-8.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ₱208

$3.27 ₱198

4.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱577

$9.70 ₱589

-2.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.44 ₱87.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱130

$2.22 ₱135

-3.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.13

$0.28 ₱17.02

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 ₱719

$6.04 ₱367

96.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱55.5

$0.87 ₱52.6

4.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.18

$0.22 ₱13.34

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱126

$2.18 ₱132

-4.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.3

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

$26.3K ₱1.6M

$26.7K ₱1.6M

-1.64%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

7.72%

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

$136 ₱8,261

$134 ₱8,150

1.36%

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

$22.24 ₱1,350

$35.30 ₱2,143

-37.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.14 ₱1,648

$27.34 ₱1,660

-0.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ₱2,559

$33.96 ₱2,062

24.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ₱418

$4.47 ₱271

53.91%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱400

$6.56 ₱398

0.30%

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

$362 ₱22.0K

$152 ₱9,223

138.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱681.7K

$4,799 ₱291.4K

133.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.99 ₱2,853

$48.37 ₱2,937

-2.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 ₱2,148

$35.10 ₱2,131

0.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,001

$76.5 ₱4,647

7.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.51 ₱2,824

$46.02 ₱2,794

1.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₱29.8K

$350 ₱21.2K

40.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.3K

$199 ₱12.1K

34.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 ₱104.8K

$580 ₱35.2K

197.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 ₱37.7K

$502 ₱30.5K

23.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,269 ₱259.2K

$3,353 ₱203.6K

27.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,574 ₱156.3K

$2,527 ₱153.4K

1.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$487 ₱29.5K

$442 ₱26.9K

10.01%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Pasig: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $491 in Manila versus $350 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 10% 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 $27.00 in Pasig. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Manila vs $232 in Pasig – so Pasig wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $958 in Manila, $876 in Pasig – roughly 9% 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 $1,314 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 $958 in Manila and $876 in Pasig. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 96% 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 $876, than in Manila at $958. 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 $876 in Pasig 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 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.