Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Polomolok Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Polomolok

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $927 per month in Manila vs $630 in Polomolok, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $989 in Polomolok, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,348 in Polomolok, rent included.

Manila costs about 47% more than Polomolok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Polomolok are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Polomolok 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱322

$1.63 ₱102

216.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,613

$16.66 ₱1,039

55.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱245

$2.12 ₱133

85.38%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱157

$2.17 ₱135

16.13%

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

$1.36 ₱84.6

$0.39 ₱24.05

248.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.8

$0.69 ₱42.86

20.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.4

$1.07 ₱66.7

5.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱171

$1.90 ₱118

44.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱118

$1.64 ₱102

15.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.1

$0.92 ₱57.2

55.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.1

$0.67 ₱41.60

46.27%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱139

$1.96 ₱123

13.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱498

$6.84 ₱426

16.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱292

$2.64 ₱165

77.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱424

$5.67 ₱353

20.11%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱207

$2.60 ₱162

27.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$0.59 ₱36.62

210.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱186

$2.25 ₱140

32.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$0.77 ₱48.03

141.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱141

$1.21 ₱75.8

86.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱168

$2.85 ₱178

-5.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$0.77 ₱47.79

172.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.65

$0.67 ₱41.65

-16.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱200

$2.43 ₱151

31.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱599

$7.17 ₱447

34.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.6

$1.02 ₱63.5

29.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$1.56 ₱97.3

34.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱28.89

$0.25 ₱15.52

84.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱791

$11.26 ₱702

12.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.82 ₱51.3

1.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.25 ₱15.67

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.90 ₱118

-2.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.1

$0.86 ₱53.6

44.19%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$15.8K ₱983.7K

35.29%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$17.7K ₱1.1M

8.99%

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

$122 ₱7,607

$52.4 ₱3,267

132.89%

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

$14.83 ₱925

$19.19 ₱1,197

-22.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,494

$26.81 ₱1,672

-10.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,648

$32.56 ₱2,030

30.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱361

$4.95 ₱309

16.97%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱429

$3.96 ₱247

73.74%

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

$621 ₱38.7K

$108 ₱6,717

476.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱552.8K

$1,362 ₱84.9K

550.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,586

$32.47 ₱2,025

77.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,749

$19.27 ₱1,202

45.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,840

$63.1 ₱3,933

23.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,609

$63.3 ₱3,947

-8.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.3K

$273 ₱17.0K

95.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱17.9K

$174 ₱10.9K

64.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.2K

$493 ₱30.7K

291.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.4K

$354 ₱22.1K

87.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱271.6K

$2,590 ₱161.5K

68.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱159.3K

$1,042 ₱65.0K

145.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.5K

$236 ₱14.7K

100.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

23.83%

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

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Last update for Polomolok: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $273 in Polomolok. 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 101% 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 $17.00 in Polomolok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $159 – making Polomolok 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 Polomolok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $927 in Manila, $630 in Polomolok – roughly 47% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,391 per month in Manila and $945 in Polomolok. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Polomolok, 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 $630 in Polomolok. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% less in Polomolok. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Polomolok, where all-in costs run around $630, than in Manila at $927. In Polomolok 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 $630 in Polomolok 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 Polomolok. 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.