Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Surigao Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Surigao

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $795 in Surigao, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,210 in Surigao, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $1,625 in Surigao, rent included.

Manila costs about 20% more than Surigao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Surigao are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Surigao 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$3.63 ₱224

45.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,672

$18.01 ₱1,111

50.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱281

$3.27 ₱201

39.14%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱169

$2.39 ₱147

14.23%

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

$0.96 ₱59.4

$0.78 ₱47.97

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱31.01

$0.36 ₱22.37

38.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.9

$1.30 ₱79.9

18.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$2.12 ₱131

25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.89 ₱116

0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱82.1

$1.22 ₱75.5

9.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.2

$1.00 ₱61.7

7.00%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$2.03 ₱125

2.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱573

$8.17 ₱504

13.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$4.30 ₱265

21.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱527

$7.77 ₱479

10.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$2.86 ₱176

23.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.59 ₱97.9

13.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.59 ₱160

38.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.54 ₱95.0

62.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$2.32 ₱143

19.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱195

$2.64 ₱163

19.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.07 ₱66.2

85.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.24

$0.76 ₱46.75

-10.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.87 ₱177

15.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱586

$8.57 ₱529

10.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.2

$1.16 ₱71.5

25.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.05 ₱126

2.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.46

$0.28 ₱17.27

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱749

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.1

$0.78 ₱48.07

12.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.68

$0.22 ₱13.56

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.11 ₱130

-1.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.4

$1.15 ₱70.8

1.74%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$27.1K ₱1.7M

-3.86%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

9.91%

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

$135 ₱8,351

$111 ₱6,820

22.45%

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

$21.56 ₱1,330

$24.36 ₱1,502

-11.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,701

$38.92 ₱2,400

-29.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$33.84 ₱2,087

22.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.50 ₱278

51.56%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱427

$5.97 ₱368

15.91%

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

$363 ₱22.4K

$150 ₱9,223

142.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱714.6K

$4,262 ₱262.8K

171.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,905

$45.84 ₱2,827

2.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,121

$26.73 ₱1,649

28.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,049

$76.3 ₱4,707

7.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,924

$53.0 ₱3,269

-10.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$264 ₱16.3K

84.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$180 ₱11.1K

50.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.6K

$584 ₱36.0K

195.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$393 ₱24.3K

62.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱267.2K

$2,042 ₱126.0K

112.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.5K

$890 ₱54.9K

192.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.8K

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Surigao: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Manila versus $264 in Surigao. 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 Surigao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $207 – making Surigao 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 Surigao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $957 in Manila, $795 in Surigao – roughly 20% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,192 in Surigao. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Surigao, 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 $957 in Manila and $795 in Surigao. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $150 in Surigao. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Manila and $795 in Surigao, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $795 in Surigao to $957 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 Surigao. 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.