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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $819 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,172 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $1,526 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

Manila costs about 17% more than Puerto Princesa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Puerto Princesa are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Puerto Princesa 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$4.13 ₱255

27.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,672

$26.50 ₱1,634

2.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱281

$4.38 ₱270

3.88%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱169

$2.42 ₱149

12.81%

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

$0.96 ₱59.4

$0.63 ₱38.73

52.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱31.01

$0.39 ₱23.83

28.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.9

$1.27 ₱78.2

21.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$1.75 ₱108

51.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.59 ₱98.0

19.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱82.1

$1.14 ₱70.2

16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.2

$0.85 ₱52.6

25.88%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$1.87 ₱115

11.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱573

$9.03 ₱557

2.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$4.94 ₱305

5.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱527

$6.31 ₱389

35.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$3.58 ₱221

-1.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$0.99 ₱61.3

81.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$3.52 ₱217

1.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$0.93 ₱57.3

168.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$1.81 ₱112

53.59%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱195

$1.32 ₱81.3

139.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.08 ₱66.8

83.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.24

$0.78 ₱47.99

-12.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$3.10 ₱191

6.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱586

$7.11 ₱439

33.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.2

$1.07 ₱66.2

36.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.79 ₱111

17.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.46

$0.26 ₱15.83

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱749

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.1

$1.78 ₱110

-50.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.68

$0.22 ₱13.49

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.17 ₱134

-4.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.4

$1.17 ₱72.0

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$14.1K ₱867.0K

85.45%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

10.37%

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

$135 ₱8,351

$121 ₱7,467

11.84%

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

$21.56 ₱1,330

$13.75 ₱848

56.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,701

$33.59 ₱2,071

-17.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$26.78 ₱1,651

54.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.35 ₱268

56.78%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱427

$5.45 ₱336

26.97%

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

$363 ₱22.4K

$63.0 ₱3,884

476.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱714.6K

$4,379 ₱270.0K

164.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,905

$45.36 ₱2,797

3.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,121

$26.99 ₱1,664

27.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,049

$74.4 ₱4,589

10.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,924

$53.7 ₱3,311

-11.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$287 ₱17.7K

69.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$226 ₱13.9K

20.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.6K

$449 ₱27.7K

285.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$307 ₱19.0K

108.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱267.2K

$2,412 ₱148.7K

79.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.5K

$965 ₱59.5K

169.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.8K

$226 ₱13.9K

106.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

8.25

-8.85%

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

Last update for Manila: July 11, 2026

Last update for Puerto Princesa: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Manila versus $287 in Puerto Princesa. 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 107% 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 $27.00 in Puerto Princesa. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Manila vs $196 in Puerto Princesa – so Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $957 in Manila, $819 in Puerto Princesa – roughly 17% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,228 in Puerto Princesa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Puerto Princesa, 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 $957 in Manila and $819 in Puerto Princesa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $63.0 in Puerto Princesa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Manila and $819 in Puerto Princesa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $819 in Puerto Princesa to $957 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 Princesa. 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.