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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $961 in Taguig City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,543 per month in Manila vs $1,586 in Taguig City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Manila vs $2,211 in Taguig City, rent included.

Manila and Taguig City have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.22 ₱315

$4.38 ₱264

19.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.52 ₱1,597

$26.58 ₱1,601

-0.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 ₱264

$3.49 ₱210

25.50%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ₱164

$2.60 ₱157

4.62%

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

$0.93 ₱55.9

$0.87 ₱52.2

6.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₱30.63

$0.48 ₱29.13

6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱91.7

$1.50 ₱90.4

1.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ₱163

$2.64 ₱159

2.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₱117

$1.97 ₱119

-1.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 ₱81.9

$1.40 ₱84.4

-2.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱65.5

$1.04 ₱62.6

4.81%

Eggs

$2.10 ₱127

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 ₱570

$9.25 ₱557

2.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.24 ₱316

$5.15 ₱310

1.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.78 ₱529

$8.52 ₱513

3.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱205

$2.76 ₱166

23.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₱106

$1.78 ₱107

-0.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 ₱210

$3.06 ₱185

13.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₱145

$1.20 ₱72.3

100.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 ₱161

$1.89 ₱114

41.27%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 ₱190

$3.07 ₱185

2.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₱122

$1.72 ₱104

17.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱41.56

$0.77 ₱46.33

-10.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱202

$3.21 ₱193

4.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.03 ₱604

$8.97 ₱540

11.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱87.9

$1.34 ₱81.0

8.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱129

$2.25 ₱136

-4.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.03

$0.24 ₱14.53

116.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 ₱723

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱55.1

$0.91 ₱55.0

1.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.32

$0.22 ₱13.23

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₱131

$2.11 ₱127

3.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱69.6

$1.12 ₱67.2

3.57%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$26.3K ₱1.6M

2.15%

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

$23.1K ₱1.4M

$20.4K ₱1.2M

13.42%

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

$134 ₱8,058

$127 ₱7,643

5.43%

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

$22.30 ₱1,343

$32.15 ₱1,937

-30.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 ₱1,622

$26.91 ₱1,621

0.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.13 ₱2,537

$43.26 ₱2,605

-2.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.77 ₱408

Cinema Ticket

$6.57 ₱395

$6.88 ₱414

-4.51%

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

$354 ₱21.3K

$152 ₱9,173

132.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱675.0K

$11.6K ₱698.8K

-3.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.31 ₱2,849

$45.74 ₱2,755

3.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.90 ₱2,102

$34.20 ₱2,060

2.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.5 ₱4,966

$70.0 ₱4,213

17.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.21 ₱2,783

$47.29 ₱2,848

-2.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.1K

$578 ₱34.8K

-13.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.4K

$325 ₱19.6K

-16.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,716 ₱103.3K

$1,964 ₱118.3K

-12.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 ₱38.0K

$800 ₱48.2K

-21.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,360 ₱262.6K

$4,054 ₱244.1K

7.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,599 ₱156.5K

$1,369 ₱82.4K

89.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$516 ₱31.1K

$487 ₱29.3K

5.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.17

21.88%

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

Last update for Manila: June 14, 2026

Last update for Taguig City: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $578 in Taguig 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 6% higher in Manila. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $27.00 in Taguig City. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Manila vs $225 in Taguig City – so Taguig City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Taguig City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,441 in Taguig City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Manila, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $354 per month in Manila and $152 in Taguig City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Taguig City – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Manila, where all-in costs run around $957, than in Taguig City at $961. In Manila it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taguig City 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 $957 in Manila to $961 in Taguig City. 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 Manila. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Taguig City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.