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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $968 per month in Manila vs $860 in Pasig, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Manila vs $1,403 in Pasig, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,085 per month in Manila vs $1,947 in Pasig, rent included.

Manila costs about 13% more than Pasig, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Manila and Pasig are more affordable than the global median – Manila 27% lower, Pasig 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱332

$4.52 ₱277

19.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,609

$26.63 ₱1,635

-1.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱265

$3.30 ₱203

30.91%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱163

$2.75 ₱169

-3.64%

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

$0.96 ₱58.8

$0.69 ₱42.67

39.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.34

$0.38 ₱23.19

42.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.7

$1.47 ₱90.1

4.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.70 ₱166

1.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.91 ₱117

-0.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.7

$1.34 ₱82.3

-0.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.8

$1.09 ₱67.0

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$2.21 ₱136

-4.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱558

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱314

$4.37 ₱268

17.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱511

$8.62 ₱529

-3.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱214

$3.43 ₱211

1.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱113

$1.83 ₱112

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$3.55 ₱218

2.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.72 ₱106

44.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$2.76 ₱170

-2.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱190

$3.08 ₱189

0.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$2.06 ₱126

-3.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.86

$0.71 ₱43.58

-1.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$3.22 ₱197

4.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱610

$9.52 ₱584

4.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.9

$1.45 ₱89.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱132

$2.11 ₱130

1.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.58

$0.28 ₱17.37

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱741

$6.23 ₱383

93.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.3

$0.90 ₱55.4

-3.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.71

$0.24 ₱14.74

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.2

$1.16 ₱71.0

-2.59%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$26.1K ₱1.6M

1.54%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

12.52%

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

$136 ₱8,343

$134 ₱8,225

1.43%

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

$22.22 ₱1,364

$34.45 ₱2,115

-35.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,695

$27.33 ₱1,678

0.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,624

$33.58 ₱2,062

27.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱432

$4.34 ₱266

62.21%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱409

$6.49 ₱398

2.77%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$151 ₱9,301

139.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱696.9K

$4,815 ₱295.6K

135.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,884

$48.78 ₱2,995

-3.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,128

$35.44 ₱2,176

-2.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,100

$75.4 ₱4,628

10.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,838

$47.09 ₱2,892

-1.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱30.0K

$349 ₱21.4K

40.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.2K

$201 ₱12.3K

30.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.7K

$579 ₱35.5K

194.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.5K

$503 ₱30.9K

24.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱271.0K

$3,307 ₱203.1K

33.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱155.1K

$2,594 ₱159.3K

-2.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.2K

$446 ₱27.4K

10.25%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Pasig: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Manila versus $349 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 – $240 in Manila vs $233 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: $968 in Manila, $860 in Pasig – roughly 13% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,452 per month in Manila and $1,290 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 $968 in Manila and $860 in Pasig. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 94% 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 $860, than in Manila at $968. 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 $860 in Pasig to $968 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.