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 $959 per month in Manila vs $994 in Taguig City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,506 per month in Manila vs $1,531 in Taguig City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,052 per month in Manila vs $2,068 in Taguig City, rent included.

Manila is about 3% cheaper than Taguig City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Taguig City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, Taguig City 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱341

$3.89 ₱244

39.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,667

$27.23 ₱1,711

-2.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$3.11 ₱195

26.05%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱158

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

$1.39 ₱87.1

$0.76 ₱47.79

82.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.4

$0.43 ₱27.22

93.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.2

$1.21 ₱75.9

-4.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$2.43 ₱153

12.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.89 ₱118

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.9

$1.46 ₱91.9

-4.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱62.1

$0.86 ₱53.9

15.12%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$1.86 ₱117

24.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱491

$5.19 ₱326

50.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱310

$4.72 ₱297

4.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱447

$7.77 ₱488

-8.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$2.24 ₱141

44.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.91 ₱120

-1.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.82 ₱177

6.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱115

$1.02 ₱64.0

78.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$1.72 ₱108

29.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱165

$2.67 ₱168

-1.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$1.56 ₱98.3

39.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.18

$0.56 ₱35.04

5.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱200

$3.00 ₱188

6.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱598

$8.58 ₱539

10.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.6

$1.24 ₱77.7

3.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$2.03 ₱127

-0.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.30

$0.22 ₱13.84

113.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱807

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.34

$0.76 ₱47.62

1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.47

$0.23 ₱14.36

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

$1.97 ₱124

-0.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.7

$1.19 ₱74.5

6.72%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₱1.4M

-0.53%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

0.32%

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

$122 ₱7,651

$112 ₱7,039

8.70%

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

$15.16 ₱952

$14.79 ₱929

2.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,508

$23.63 ₱1,485

1.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,677

$39.74 ₱2,497

7.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱358

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱433

$6.93 ₱435

-0.72%

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

$618 ₱38.8K

$135 ₱8,468

358.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱556.9K

$8,949 ₱562.2K

-0.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,665

$40.67 ₱2,555

43.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,754

$27.71 ₱1,741

0.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,889

$67.3 ₱4,225

15.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,674

$56.9 ₱3,576

2.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.2K

$509 ₱32.0K

7.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$443 ₱27.8K

-35.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱121.1K

$2,536 ₱159.3K

-23.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.3K

$839 ₱52.7K

-19.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱276.2K

$3,981 ₱250.1K

10.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.8K

$1,368 ₱86.0K

84.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

$473 ₱29.7K

0.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.83

8.78%

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

Last update for Manila: September 12, 2026

Last update for Taguig City: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Manila versus $509 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 1% higher in Manila, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $27.00 in Taguig City. Groceries tell a different story – $221 in Manila vs $197 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

Taguig City costs about 4% more than Manila, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,439 per month in Manila and $1,490 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $959 in Manila and $994 in Taguig City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $618 per month in Manila and $135 in Taguig 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 Manila, where all-in costs run around $959, than in Taguig City at $994. 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 $959 in Manila to $994 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.