Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Siargao Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Siargao

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $927 per month in Manila vs $778 in Siargao, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $1,212 in Siargao, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,645 in Siargao, rent included.

Manila costs about 19% more than Siargao, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Manila and Siargao are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Siargao 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱322

$3.62 ₱226

42.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,613

$19.51 ₱1,217

32.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱245

$3.29 ₱205

19.45%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱157

$2.60 ₱162

-3.08%

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

$1.36 ₱84.6

$0.83 ₱51.5

63.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.8

$0.37 ₱23.06

124.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.4

$1.29 ₱80.4

-12.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱171

$2.11 ₱131

29.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱118

$1.92 ₱120

-1.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.1

$1.23 ₱76.6

16.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.1

$0.96 ₱60.0

2.08%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱139

$2.05 ₱128

8.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱498

$8.26 ₱515

-3.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱292

$4.34 ₱271

8.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱424

$7.82 ₱487

-12.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱207

$2.87 ₱179

15.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$1.56 ₱97.2

17.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱186

$2.58 ₱161

15.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.62 ₱101

14.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱141

$2.25 ₱140

0.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱168

$2.62 ₱163

3.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$1.07 ₱66.5

96.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.65

$0.76 ₱47.59

-26.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱200

$2.86 ₱178

11.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱599

$6.64 ₱414

44.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.6

$1.16 ₱72.6

13.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$2.06 ₱129

1.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱28.89

$0.26 ₱16.01

76.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱791

$11.32 ₱706

12.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.83 ₱51.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.22 ₱13.72

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$2.17 ₱135

-14.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.1

$1.14 ₱71.1

8.77%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$26.5K ₱1.7M

-19.48%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

-5.08%

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

$122 ₱7,607

$111 ₱6,908

10.13%

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

$14.83 ₱925

$33.32 ₱2,078

-55.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,494

$27.25 ₱1,699

-12.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,648

$33.44 ₱2,085

26.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱361

$4.46 ₱278

29.82%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱429

$5.95 ₱371

15.63%

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

$621 ₱38.7K

$154 ₱9,620

302.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱552.8K

$4,282 ₱267.0K

107.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,586

$44.89 ₱2,799

28.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,749

$27.03 ₱1,686

3.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,840

$75.4 ₱4,700

2.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,609

$52.2 ₱3,254

10.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.3K

$265 ₱16.5K

101.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱17.9K

$173 ₱10.8K

65.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.2K

$597 ₱37.2K

222.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.4K

$391 ₱24.4K

69.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱271.6K

$2,360 ₱147.2K

84.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱159.3K

$1,019 ₱63.6K

150.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.67

11.39%

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

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Last update for Siargao: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $265 in Siargao. 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $20.00 in Siargao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $204 – making Siargao 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 Siargao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $927 in Manila, $778 in Siargao – roughly 19% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,391 per month in Manila and $1,167 in Siargao. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Siargao, 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 $778 in Siargao. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 12% less in Siargao. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Siargao, where all-in costs run around $778, than in Manila at $927. In Siargao 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 $778 in Siargao 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 Siargao. 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.