Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Sorsogon City Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Sorsogon City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $781 in Sorsogon City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,207 in Sorsogon City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,632 in Sorsogon City, rent included.

Manila costs about 23% more than Sorsogon City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Sorsogon City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Sorsogon City 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$3.62 ₱223

48.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$17.63 ₱1,087

52.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.40 ₱210

27.65%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.34 ₱145

17.52%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.84 ₱51.5

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.37 ₱22.59

35.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.30 ₱80.3

14.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.09 ₱129

24.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.88 ₱116

0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.21 ₱74.8

14.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.96 ₱59.1

9.38%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.06 ₱127

5.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$7.88 ₱486

21.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.37 ₱270

18.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.70 ₱475

8.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.86 ₱176

22.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.54 ₱94.9

16.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.59 ₱160

38.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.56 ₱96.5

59.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.30 ₱142

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.52 ₱156

20.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.06 ₱65.4

89.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.75 ₱46.49

-14.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.81 ₱173

18.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$8.16 ₱503

19.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.15 ₱71.2

29.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$2.03 ₱125

5.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.28 ₱17.42

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.78 ₱47.83

10.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.24 ₱14.81

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.18 ₱134

-0.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.11 ₱68.3

4.50%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$26.5K ₱1.6M

-1.24%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

9.98%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$112 ₱6,899

23.63%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$33.23 ₱2,049

-33.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$27.37 ₱1,687

1.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$33.72 ₱2,079

22.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.38 ₱270

57.31%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$5.99 ₱369

9.85%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$150 ₱9,256

137.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,254 ₱262.3K

169.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$46.58 ₱2,873

-0.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$26.36 ₱1,626

33.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$75.6 ₱4,663

8.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$53.9 ₱3,321

-15.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$266 ₱16.4K

87.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$180 ₱11.1K

47.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$587 ₱36.2K

186.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$401 ₱24.7K

58.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,280 ₱140.6K

91.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$970 ₱59.8K

162.18%

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 Sorsogon City: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $266 in Sorsogon City. 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 $18.00 in Sorsogon City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $205 – making Sorsogon City 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 Sorsogon City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $959 in Manila, $781 in Sorsogon City – roughly 23% 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 $1,172 in Sorsogon City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sorsogon City, 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 $781 in Sorsogon City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $150 in Sorsogon City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sorsogon City, where all-in costs run around $781, than in Manila at $959. In Sorsogon City 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 $781 in Sorsogon City 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 Sorsogon City. 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.