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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $656 in Polomolok, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,043 in Polomolok, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,431 in Polomolok, rent included.

Manila costs about 46% more than Polomolok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Polomolok are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Polomolok 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$1.78 ₱110

202.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$13.54 ₱835

98.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$2.26 ₱140

92.04%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.05 ₱127

34.15%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.46 ₱28.30

108.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.49 ₱30.10

2.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.13 ₱69.4

31.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.62 ₱100.0

61.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.74 ₱107

8.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$0.98 ₱60.6

40.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.74 ₱45.67

41.89%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.06 ₱127

5.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$5.89 ₱363

63.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$3.00 ₱185

73.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$6.06 ₱374

37.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.90 ₱179

20.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$0.60 ₱36.95

200.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.29 ₱141

56.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$0.86 ₱53.3

189.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$1.36 ₱83.9

102.94%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$3.17 ₱195

-4.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$0.92 ₱56.9

118.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.60 ₱36.89

6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.60 ₱160

27.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$7.42 ₱458

31.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.05 ₱65.0

41.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.55 ₱95.5

38.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.26 ₱16.01

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

$14.20 ₱876

-15.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.90 ₱55.5

-4.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.25 ₱15.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.14 ₱132

0.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.02 ₱63.1

13.73%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$17.4K ₱1.1M

50.23%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

18.77%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$57.9 ₱3,571

138.85%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$12.51 ₱772

77.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$29.48 ₱1,818

-6.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$33.43 ₱2,061

23.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.52 ₱279

52.43%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$4.39 ₱271

49.89%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$117 ₱7,214

205.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$1,479 ₱91.2K

675.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$46.28 ₱2,854

0.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$27.00 ₱1,665

30.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$70.5 ₱4,350

16.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$69.7 ₱4,298

-34.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$268 ₱16.5K

86.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$176 ₱10.9K

50.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$593 ₱36.6K

183.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$390 ₱24.0K

63.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,419 ₱149.1K

80.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$971 ₱59.9K

162.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$241 ₱14.9K

99.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

25.33%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for Polomolok: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $268 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 99% 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 $27.00 in Manila versus $14.00 in Polomolok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $165 – 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: $959 in Manila, $656 in Polomolok – roughly 46% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $985 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 $959 in Manila and $656 in Polomolok. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 18% 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 $656, than in Manila at $959. 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 $656 in Polomolok to $959 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.