Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Tacloban Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Tacloban

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $968 per month in Manila vs $845 in Tacloban, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Manila vs $1,214 in Tacloban, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,085 per month in Manila vs $1,583 in Tacloban, rent included.

Manila costs about 15% more than Tacloban, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Tacloban are more affordable than the global median – Manila 27% lower, Tacloban 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱331

$4.38 ₱268

23.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,604

$17.42 ₱1,067

50.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱264

$2.72 ₱167

58.82%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱162

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

$0.96 ₱58.6

$0.76 ₱46.81

26.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.24

$0.38 ₱23.36

42.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.4

$1.56 ₱95.6

-1.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱167

$2.19 ₱134

24.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱116

$2.29 ₱140

-17.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.5

$1.58 ₱96.5

-15.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.6

$0.98 ₱59.8

11.22%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$2.38 ₱146

-11.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱556

$12.71 ₱778

-28.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱313

$4.73 ₱290

8.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱509

$7.93 ₱485

4.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱213

$3.52 ₱215

-1.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱112

$1.22 ₱74.4

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$3.29 ₱202

10.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.75 ₱107

41.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$2.65 ₱162

1.13%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱189

$2.49 ₱152

24.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$0.94 ₱57.4

111.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.73

$0.84 ₱51.6

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.18 ₱134

54.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱609

$6.22 ₱381

59.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.6

$1.21 ₱74.0

19.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$2.30 ₱141

-6.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.48

$0.18 ₱11.05

183.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱738

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.1

$0.87 ₱53.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.66

$0.17 ₱10.57

58.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.60 ₱159

-19.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.0

$1.09 ₱66.9

3.67%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$30.2K ₱1.8M

-12.09%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$27.3K ₱1.7M

-15.64%

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

$136 ₱8,317

$97.3 ₱5,955

39.67%

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

$22.22 ₱1,360

$33.84 ₱2,071

-34.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,690

$29.29 ₱1,793

-5.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,616

$34.44 ₱2,108

24.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱431

$4.35 ₱266

61.84%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱408

$5.91 ₱362

12.86%

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

$363 ₱22.2K

$236 ₱14.4K

53.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱694.8K

$3,840 ₱235.1K

195.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,875

$46.59 ₱2,852

0.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,122

$22.58 ₱1,382

53.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,084

$75.0 ₱4,589

10.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,830

$54.8 ₱3,354

-15.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱29.9K

$245 ₱15.0K

99.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.1K

$210 ₱12.9K

25.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.4K

$800 ₱49.0K

113.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.4K

$236 ₱14.4K

166.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱270.2K

$2,367 ₱144.9K

86.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱154.6K

$968 ₱59.3K

160.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.1K

$352 ₱21.5K

39.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

-6.00%

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

Last update for Manila: July 25, 2026

Last update for Tacloban: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Manila versus $245 in Tacloban. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 40% higher in Manila, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Manila versus $17.00 in Tacloban. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $234 – making Tacloban 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 Tacloban: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $968 in Manila, $845 in Tacloban – roughly 15% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,452 per month in Manila and $1,267 in Tacloban. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tacloban, 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 $968 in Manila and $845 in Tacloban. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $236 in Tacloban. 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 Tacloban, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Manila at $968. In Tacloban 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 $845 in Tacloban to $968 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 Tacloban. 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.