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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $772 in Tacloban, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,506 per month in Manila vs $1,163 in Tacloban, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,052 per month in Manila vs $1,554 in Tacloban, rent included.

Manila costs about 24% more than Tacloban, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Tacloban are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, Tacloban 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱341

$2.94 ₱185

84.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,664

$15.64 ₱981

69.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$2.33 ₱146

68.24%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱158

$2.35 ₱148

6.81%

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

$1.39 ₱87.0

$0.57 ₱35.75

143.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.35 ₱21.77

137.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.0

$1.58 ₱99.0

-26.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$2.20 ₱138

24.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.88 ₱118

0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.8

$1.14 ₱71.7

22.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱62.0

$0.88 ₱55.5

12.50%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$1.93 ₱121

19.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱490

$10.14 ₱636

-22.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱309

$4.27 ₱268

15.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱446

$6.99 ₱439

1.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$3.35 ₱210

-3.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.14 ₱71.4

65.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.38 ₱149

26.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱114

$1.55 ₱97.1

17.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$2.35 ₱147

-5.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱165

$1.95 ₱122

34.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$1.22 ₱76.8

77.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.12

$0.63 ₱39.56

-6.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱199

$1.92 ₱121

65.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱597

$6.35 ₱398

49.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.5

$1.12 ₱70.4

14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$1.64 ₱103

23.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.25

$0.25 ₱15.54

88.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱806

$12.71 ₱797

1.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.26

$0.79 ₱49.71

-2.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.44

$0.22 ₱13.81

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

$1.93 ₱121

1.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.5

$0.99 ₱62.1

28.28%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₱1.4M

-0.57%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$18.9K ₱1.2M

3.93%

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

$122 ₱7,639

$121 ₱7,581

0.76%

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

$15.16 ₱951

$14.64 ₱918

3.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,505

$27.79 ₱1,743

-13.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,673

$32.11 ₱2,014

32.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱357

$4.66 ₱293

22.10%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱432

$5.45 ₱342

26.24%

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

$618 ₱38.8K

$134 ₱8,376

362.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱555.9K

$8,051 ₱504.9K

10.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,658

$31.60 ₱1,982

84.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,751

$19.73 ₱1,238

41.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,881

$77.0 ₱4,830

1.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,667

$55.9 ₱3,509

4.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.2K

$271 ₱17.0K

101.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$189 ₱11.9K

50.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$495 ₱31.0K

289.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.2K

$352 ₱22.1K

91.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱275.8K

$2,631 ₱165.0K

67.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.5K

$1,047 ₱65.7K

141.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

$350 ₱22.0K

36.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

7.2

3.19%

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

Last update for Manila: September 12, 2026

Last update for Tacloban: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Manila versus $271 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 36% 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 $27.00 in Manila versus $16.00 in Tacloban. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $200 – 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: $959 in Manila, $772 in Tacloban – roughly 24% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,439 per month in Manila and $1,158 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 $959 in Manila and $772 in Tacloban. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Tacloban. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tacloban, where all-in costs run around $772, than in Manila at $959. 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 $772 in Tacloban 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 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.