Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Puerto Galera Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Puerto Galera

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $875 in Puerto Galera, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,344 in Puerto Galera, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,813 in Puerto Galera, rent included.

Manila costs about 10% more than Puerto Galera, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Puerto Galera are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Puerto Galera 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$4.87 ₱300

10.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$21.06 ₱1,299

27.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.01 ₱186

50.83%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$2.92 ₱180

-10.27%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.95 ₱58.3

3.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.38 ₱23.20

42.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.27 ₱78.3

16.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.64 ₱163

3.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$2.10 ₱130

-6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.21 ₱74.3

15.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$1.07 ₱66.0

-3.74%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.02 ₱125

2.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$7.17 ₱443

27.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$4.29 ₱265

21.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$7.12 ₱439

22.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$4.28 ₱264

-20.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.53 ₱94.1

18.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$3.01 ₱186

21.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.64 ₱101

53.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$2.75 ₱170

2.18%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$4.03 ₱249

-23.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$1.61 ₱99.5

23.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$1.01 ₱62.4

-31.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$3.16 ₱195

8.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$7.52 ₱464

32.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.54 ₱95.2

-3.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.98 ₱122

10.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.26 ₱15.83

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.82 ₱50.4

13.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.25 ₱15.40

8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.09 ₱129

3.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.11 ₱68.3

0.90%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$26.0K ₱1.6M

2.29%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

10.67%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$164 ₱10.1K

-17.72%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$33.29 ₱2,053

-33.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$30.18 ₱1,861

-7.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$33.45 ₱2,063

25.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$4.50 ₱278

55.56%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$7.22 ₱446

-6.79%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$82.5 ₱5,088

342.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$2,769 ₱170.8K

317.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$31.81 ₱1,962

47.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$29.37 ₱1,812

19.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$97.0 ₱5,986

-15.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$95.2 ₱5,869

-51.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$267 ₱16.4K

83.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$178 ₱11.0K

51.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$586 ₱36.2K

187.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$397 ₱24.5K

58.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

$2,623 ₱161.8K

64.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

8.13

-7.50%

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

Last update for Manila: April 27, 2026

Last update for Puerto Galera: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $267 in Puerto Galera. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $21.00 in Puerto Galera. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $222 – making Puerto Galera 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 Puerto Galera: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $963 in Manila, $875 in Puerto Galera – roughly 10% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $1,312 in Puerto Galera. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Puerto Galera, 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 $963 in Manila and $875 in Puerto Galera. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $365 per month in Manila and $82.5 in Puerto Galera. 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 Puerto Galera, where all-in costs run around $875, than in Manila at $963. In Puerto Galera 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 $875 in Puerto Galera to $963 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 Puerto Galera. 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.