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 $968 per month in Manila vs $723 in Tagbilaran City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Manila vs $1,174 in Tagbilaran City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,085 per month in Manila vs $1,624 in Tagbilaran City, rent included.

Manila costs about 34% more than Tagbilaran City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Tagbilaran City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 27% lower, Tagbilaran City 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱331

$4.47 ₱273

20.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,604

$21.47 ₱1,314

22.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱264

$3.45 ₱211

25.22%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱162

$2.61 ₱160

1.53%

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

$0.96 ₱58.6

$0.81 ₱49.50

18.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.24

$0.46 ₱28.06

17.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.4

$1.17 ₱71.8

30.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱167

$2.10 ₱128

30.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱116

$1.76 ₱107

7.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.5

$1.08 ₱66.0

23.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.6

$0.89 ₱54.3

22.47%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$1.98 ₱121

6.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱556

$10.82 ₱663

-15.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱313

$4.59 ₱281

11.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱509

$7.54 ₱462

10.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱213

$3.47 ₱212

0.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱112

$1.35 ₱82.5

35.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$3.34 ₱204

9.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.81 ₱111

37.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$2.24 ₱137

19.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱189

$2.41 ₱148

28.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$0.98 ₱60.2

103.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.73

$0.68 ₱41.54

2.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.65 ₱162

26.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱609

$6.38 ₱391

55.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.6

$1.00 ₱61.2

45.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.18 ₱72.3

82.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.48

$0.28 ₱17.22

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱738

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.1

$0.87 ₱53.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.66

$0.23 ₱14.05

17.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.62 ₱160

-20.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.0

$1.13 ₱69.5

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$28.0K ₱1.7M

-5.35%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$21.9K ₱1.3M

5.29%

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

$136 ₱8,317

$75.5 ₱4,623

79.91%

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

$22.22 ₱1,360

$27.09 ₱1,658

-17.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,690

$29.46 ₱1,803

-6.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,616

$33.91 ₱2,076

26.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱431

$4.39 ₱269

60.36%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱408

$4.11 ₱251

62.29%

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

$363 ₱22.2K

$232 ₱14.2K

56.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱694.8K

$3,895 ₱238.4K

191.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,875

$46.28 ₱2,833

1.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,122

$19.90 ₱1,218

74.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,084

$71.9 ₱4,402

15.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,830

$55.2 ₱3,377

-16.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱29.9K

$213 ₱13.0K

129.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.1K

$152 ₱9,283

73.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.4K

$526 ₱32.2K

224.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.4K

$381 ₱23.3K

64.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱270.2K

$798 ₱48.9K

452.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱154.6K

$487 ₱29.8K

418.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.1K

$179 ₱10.9K

175.21%

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 Tagbilaran City: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 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 175% 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 $21.00 in Tagbilaran City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $209 – 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: $968 in Manila, $723 in Tagbilaran City – roughly 34% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,452 per month in Manila and $1,085 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 $968 in Manila and $723 in Tagbilaran City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $232 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 $723, than in Manila at $968. 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 $723 in Tagbilaran City 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 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.