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 $958 per month in Manila vs $726 in Tagbilaran City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,515 per month in Manila vs $1,167 in Tagbilaran City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,073 per month in Manila vs $1,608 in Tagbilaran City, rent included.

Manila costs about 32% more than Tagbilaran City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Tagbilaran City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 29% lower, Tagbilaran City 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 ₱331

$4.32 ₱263

26.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 ₱1,596

$20.86 ₱1,267

25.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱263

$3.45 ₱210

25.22%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ₱164

$2.61 ₱159

3.83%

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

$0.91 ₱55.0

$0.84 ₱51.1

8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.46 ₱27.75

8.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 ₱91.0

$1.23 ₱74.6

21.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₱160

$2.15 ₱131

22.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.75 ₱106

8.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱83.8

$1.10 ₱66.5

25.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.9

$0.95 ₱57.8

13.68%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱130

$1.99 ₱121

7.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 ₱578

$10.76 ₱653

-11.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ₱324

$4.58 ₱278

16.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 ₱508

$7.77 ₱472

7.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱206

$3.60 ₱219

-5.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.35 ₱82.1

34.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱222

$3.26 ₱198

12.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱151

$1.90 ₱115

31.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱169

$2.24 ₱136

24.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₱185

$2.46 ₱149

23.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ₱124

$1.01 ₱61.1

101.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₱39.71

$0.64 ₱38.83

1.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ₱208

$2.77 ₱168

23.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱577

$6.32 ₱384

50.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.02 ₱61.7

41.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱130

$1.13 ₱68.4

89.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.13

$0.28 ₱17.11

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 ₱719

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱55.5

$0.87 ₱52.8

4.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.18

$0.25 ₱15.19

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱126

$2.71 ₱165

-23.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.3

$1.13 ₱68.6

2.65%

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

$26.3K ₱1.6M

$27.8K ₱1.7M

-5.39%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

4.65%

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

$136 ₱8,261

$76.9 ₱4,671

76.87%

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

$22.24 ₱1,350

$26.77 ₱1,625

-16.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.14 ₱1,648

$29.37 ₱1,783

-7.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ₱2,559

$33.47 ₱2,032

25.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ₱418

$4.31 ₱262

59.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱400

$3.97 ₱241

65.74%

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

$362 ₱22.0K

$233 ₱14.1K

55.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱681.7K

$3,903 ₱237.0K

187.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.99 ₱2,853

$45.68 ₱2,774

2.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 ₱2,148

$20.02 ₱1,215

76.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,001

$71.8 ₱4,362

14.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.51 ₱2,824

$56.5 ₱3,428

-17.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₱29.8K

$211 ₱12.8K

132.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.3K

$152 ₱9,235

75.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 ₱104.8K

$529 ₱32.1K

226.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 ₱37.7K

$383 ₱23.2K

62.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,269 ₱259.2K

$2,465 ₱149.7K

73.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,574 ₱156.3K

$1,028 ₱62.4K

150.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$487 ₱29.5K

$177 ₱10.8K

174.62%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Tagbilaran City: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $491 in Manila versus $211 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: $242 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: $958 in Manila, $726 in Tagbilaran City – roughly 32% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,437 per month in Manila and $1,090 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 $958 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 $362 per month in Manila and $233 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 $958. 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 $958 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.