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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $927 per month in Manila vs $718 in Pasig, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $1,200 in Pasig, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,682 in Pasig, rent included.

Manila costs about 29% more than Pasig, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Pasig are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Pasig 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱324

$3.97 ₱249

29.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,621

$25.72 ₱1,613

0.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱246

$2.74 ₱172

43.43%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱158

$2.31 ₱145

9.09%

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

$1.36 ₱85.1

$0.66 ₱41.67

106.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.31 ₱19.68

167.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.8

$1.14 ₱71.4

-0.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$2.69 ₱169

1.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱119

$1.67 ₱104

13.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.6

$1.16 ₱73.0

23.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$1.03 ₱64.4

-4.85%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱140

$2.07 ₱130

7.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱501

$5.70 ₱357

40.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱294

$3.37 ₱211

39.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱427

$7.68 ₱481

-11.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱208

$3.20 ₱201

3.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$1.56 ₱97.7

17.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.96 ₱186

0.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.70 ₱107

9.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱142

$2.35 ₱147

-3.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱169

$2.60 ₱163

3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$2.17 ₱136

-3.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.83

$0.55 ₱34.55

1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱201

$2.89 ₱181

10.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱602

$9.55 ₱599

0.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱83.0

$1.35 ₱84.4

-2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱132

$2.01 ₱126

4.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱29.04

$0.50 ₱31.12

-8.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.77 ₱48.31

7.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.47

$0.21 ₱13.11

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱117

$1.92 ₱121

-3.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.6

$1.14 ₱71.4

8.77%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.1K ₱1.3M

1.26%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

1.39%

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

$122 ₱7,647

$123 ₱7,733

-1.10%

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

$14.83 ₱930

$17.58 ₱1,102

-15.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,502

$23.97 ₱1,503

-0.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,662

$30.49 ₱1,911

39.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱363

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱431

$6.40 ₱401

7.50%

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

$621 ₱38.9K

$133 ₱8,318

368.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱555.8K

$9,084 ₱569.4K

-2.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,604

$34.53 ₱2,165

66.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,758

$27.89 ₱1,749

0.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,866

$72.8 ₱4,563

6.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,628

$54.8 ₱3,437

5.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.5K

$277 ₱17.4K

92.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱18.0K

$129 ₱8,061

123.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$520 ₱32.6K

270.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.6K

$477 ₱29.9K

39.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱273.1K

$3,260 ₱204.3K

33.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱160.2K

$2,540 ₱159.3K

0.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.7K

$440 ₱27.6K

7.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.75

10.07%

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

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Last update for Pasig: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $277 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 8% 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 $26.00 in Pasig. Groceries tell a different story – $220 in Manila vs $201 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: $927 in Manila, $718 in Pasig – roughly 29% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,391 per month in Manila and $1,077 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 $927 in Manila and $718 in Pasig. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $621 per month in Manila and $133 in Pasig. 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 Pasig, where all-in costs run around $718, than in Manila at $927. 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 $718 in Pasig to $927 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.