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 $934 per month in Manila vs $723 in Sorsogon City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,491 per month in Manila vs $1,104 in Sorsogon City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,048 per month in Manila vs $1,486 in Sorsogon City, rent included.

Manila costs about 29% more than Sorsogon City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Sorsogon City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 32% lower, Sorsogon City 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.70 ₱356

$3.82 ₱239

49.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.88 ₱1,618

$14.72 ₱921

75.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 ₱257

$2.77 ₱173

48.38%

Cappuccino

$2.49 ₱155

$2.23 ₱140

11.66%

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

$1.37 ₱85.5

$0.62 ₱38.80

120.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₱52.4

$0.32 ₱19.82

162.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₱71.6

$1.07 ₱66.7

6.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 ₱167

$1.91 ₱119

39.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.68 ₱105

12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ₱91.3

$1.15 ₱71.9

26.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱61.7

$0.92 ₱57.7

7.61%

Eggs

$2.32 ₱145

$1.98 ₱124

17.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 ₱491

$4.78 ₱299

64.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 ₱310

$4.06 ₱254

22.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.07 ₱442

$7.09 ₱443

-0.28%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱212

$2.69 ₱168

26.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 ₱121

$1.61 ₱101

19.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱188

$2.52 ₱158

19.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 ₱111

$1.18 ₱73.8

50.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 ₱140

$2.00 ₱125

12.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 ₱162

$1.81 ₱113

43.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 ₱133

$0.73 ₱45.60

190.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.90

$0.52 ₱32.39

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 ₱190

$2.97 ₱186

2.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 ₱616

$8.19 ₱512

20.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.0

$0.93 ₱58.3

37.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱132

$2.02 ₱126

4.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.23

$0.23 ₱14.56

104.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.73 ₱796

$9.87 ₱617

28.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.82 ₱51.4

1.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.42

$0.25 ₱15.53

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 ₱124

$1.97 ₱123

0.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.4

$1.31 ₱81.7

-5.34%

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

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$22.0K ₱1.4M

-0.86%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$17.8K ₱1.1M

10.39%

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

$121 ₱7,598

$134 ₱8,391

-9.45%

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

$15.06 ₱942

$16.74 ₱1,047

-10.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.90 ₱1,495

$24.64 ₱1,541

-3.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.84 ₱2,742

$28.25 ₱1,767

55.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.97 ₱374

$4.42 ₱276

35.07%

Cinema Ticket

$7.03 ₱440

$5.20 ₱325

35.19%

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

$629 ₱39.4K

$121 ₱7,555

420.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,036 ₱565.1K

$8,583 ₱536.8K

5.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 ₱3,699

$36.66 ₱2,293

61.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.07 ₱1,756

$20.37 ₱1,274

37.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 ₱4,725

$79.0 ₱4,939

-4.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,621

$49.76 ₱3,112

16.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$537 ₱33.6K

$251 ₱15.7K

114.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 ₱17.7K

$150 ₱9,373

88.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,898 ₱118.7K

$481 ₱30.1K

294.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$671 ₱41.9K

$377 ₱23.6K

77.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,351 ₱272.1K

$2,434 ₱152.2K

78.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,494 ₱156.0K

$1,106 ₱69.2K

125.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$484 ₱30.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.75

10.07%

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

Last update for Manila: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sorsogon City: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $537 in Manila versus $251 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $15.00 in Sorsogon City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $179 – 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: $934 in Manila, $723 in Sorsogon City – roughly 29% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,401 per month in Manila and $1,084 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 $934 in Manila and $723 in Sorsogon City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 29% less in Sorsogon City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sorsogon City, where all-in costs run around $723, than in Manila at $934. 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 $723 in Sorsogon City to $934 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.