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 $959 per month in Manila vs $809 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,180 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,550 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

Manila costs about 18% 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 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$4.10 ₱253

31.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$26.71 ₱1,647

0.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$4.27 ₱263

1.64%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.46 ₱152

11.79%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.68 ₱41.75

41.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.38 ₱23.46

31.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.26 ₱77.5

18.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.72 ₱106

51.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.53 ₱94.5

23.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.17 ₱72.1

17.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.84 ₱51.8

25.00%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$1.88 ₱116

15.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$8.83 ₱544

8.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$5.03 ₱310

3.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$6.23 ₱384

33.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$3.51 ₱216

-0.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$0.93 ₱57.3

93.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$3.48 ₱214

2.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$0.90 ₱55.6

176.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$1.80 ₱111

53.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$1.37 ₱84.4

121.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.05 ₱64.6

91.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.73 ₱45.28

-12.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.95 ₱182

12.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$7.18 ₱443

35.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.13 ₱69.6

31.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.80 ₱111

19.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.28 ₱17.47

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$1.81 ₱112

-52.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.22 ₱13.50

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.10 ₱129

2.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.21 ₱74.7

-4.13%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$14.4K ₱890.6K

81.40%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

11.26%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$122 ₱7,495

13.81%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$13.69 ₱844

62.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$34.56 ₱2,131

-19.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$26.23 ₱1,618

57.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.33 ₱267

59.12%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$5.30 ₱327

24.15%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$62.5 ₱3,856

470.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,255 ₱262.4K

169.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$45.30 ₱2,793

2.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$26.63 ₱1,642

31.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$75.2 ₱4,640

9.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$52.3 ₱3,222

-12.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$291 ₱18.0K

71.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$228 ₱14.0K

16.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$439 ₱27.0K

283.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$314 ₱19.4K

102.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,418 ₱149.1K

80.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$970 ₱59.8K

162.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$223 ₱13.7K

115.99%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Puerto Princesa: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $291 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 116% 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 – $242 in Manila vs $195 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: $959 in Manila, $809 in Puerto Princesa – roughly 18% 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 $1,214 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 $959 in Manila and $809 in Puerto Princesa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $62.5 in Puerto Princesa. 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 Princesa, where all-in costs run around $809, than in Manila at $959. In Puerto Princesa 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 $809 in Puerto Princesa 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 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.