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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $762 in Siargao, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,194 in Siargao, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,627 in Siargao, rent included.

Manila costs about 26% more than Siargao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Siargao are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Siargao 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$3.61 ₱223

49.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$19.19 ₱1,183

39.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.44 ₱212

26.16%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.62 ₱161

4.96%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.77 ₱47.48

24.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.37 ₱22.55

35.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.24 ₱76.2

20.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.15 ₱133

21.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.91 ₱118

-1.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.26 ₱77.7

9.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$1.00 ₱61.9

5.00%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.03 ₱125

7.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$7.99 ₱492

20.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.30 ₱265

20.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.82 ₱482

6.39%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.98 ₱184

17.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.55 ₱95.8

16.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.69 ₱166

33.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.61 ₱99.1

54.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.20 ₱135

25.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.54 ₱157

19.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.07 ₱66.0

87.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.75 ₱46.35

-14.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.81 ₱173

18.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$6.83 ₱421

42.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.17 ₱72.0

27.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.99 ₱122

8.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.28 ₱17.35

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.83 ₱51.0

3.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.24 ₱14.85

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.07 ₱127

4.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.09 ₱67.0

6.42%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

-0.04%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

11.17%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$114 ₱7,015

21.59%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$32.85 ₱2,026

-32.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$27.70 ₱1,708

0.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$34.41 ₱2,122

20.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.36 ₱269

58.03%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$6.12 ₱377

7.52%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$154 ₱9,471

132.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,272 ₱263.4K

168.52%

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

$26.82 ₱1,654

30.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$76.8 ₱4,735

7.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$52.2 ₱3,218

-12.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$260 ₱16.1K

91.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$175 ₱10.8K

51.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$577 ₱35.6K

191.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$400 ₱24.7K

58.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,316 ₱142.8K

88.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$959 ₱59.1K

165.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.67

12.74%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for Siargao: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $260 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 $27.00 in Manila versus $19.00 in Siargao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 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: $959 in Manila, $762 in Siargao – roughly 26% 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 $1,142 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 $959 in Manila and $762 in Siargao. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $154 in Siargao. 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 Siargao, where all-in costs run around $762, than in Manila at $959. 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 $762 in Siargao 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 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.