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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $726 in Tagbilaran City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,169 in Tagbilaran City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,611 in Tagbilaran City, rent included.

Manila costs about 33% more than Tagbilaran City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Tagbilaran City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Tagbilaran City 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$4.46 ₱275

20.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$21.47 ₱1,324

24.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.43 ₱212

32.36%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$2.56 ₱158

2.34%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.85 ₱52.3

15.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.45 ₱27.86

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.19 ₱73.4

24.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.08 ₱128

31.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$1.76 ₱109

11.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.13 ₱69.6

23.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$0.93 ₱57.3

10.75%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$1.95 ₱120

6.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$10.50 ₱647

-13.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$4.58 ₱283

13.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$7.78 ₱480

11.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$3.59 ₱222

-5.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.36 ₱84.0

33.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$3.37 ₱208

8.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.84 ₱113

36.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$2.26 ₱139

24.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$2.45 ₱151

26.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$0.99 ₱61.1

101.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.68 ₱41.91

1.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$2.65 ₱164

29.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$6.54 ₱404

52.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$0.97 ₱59.7

53.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.18 ₱72.9

85.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.28 ₱17.47

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.86 ₱53.3

8.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.23 ₱14.18

17.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.62 ₱162

-17.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.10 ₱67.7

1.82%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$27.6K ₱1.7M

-3.67%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$21.9K ₱1.4M

4.63%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$77.1 ₱4,753

74.75%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$26.30 ₱1,622

-16.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$29.56 ₱1,823

-5.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$33.64 ₱2,075

25.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$4.37 ₱270

60.18%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$4.08 ₱252

64.95%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$228 ₱14.1K

59.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$3,926 ₱242.2K

194.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$46.42 ₱2,863

1.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$20.01 ₱1,234

74.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$73.6 ₱4,539

11.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$55.3 ₱3,411

-16.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$213 ₱13.1K

129.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$151 ₱9,303

78.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$528 ₱32.5K

219.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$386 ₱23.8K

63.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

$2,314 ₱142.7K

86.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

$491 ₱30.3K

437.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$181 ₱11.1K

150.52%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tagbilaran City: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $213 in Tagbilaran City. 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 151% 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 $21.00 in Tagbilaran City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $211 – making Tagbilaran 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 Tagbilaran City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $963 in Manila, $726 in Tagbilaran City – roughly 33% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $1,089 in Tagbilaran City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tagbilaran 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 $963 in Manila and $726 in Tagbilaran City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $365 per month in Manila and $228 in Tagbilaran City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tagbilaran City, where all-in costs run around $726, than in Manila at $963. In Tagbilaran 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 $726 in Tagbilaran City to $963 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 Tagbilaran 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.