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 $968 per month in Manila vs $964 in Taguig City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Manila vs $1,567 in Taguig City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,085 per month in Manila vs $2,169 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 27% lower, Taguig City 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱331

$4.56 ₱279

18.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,604

$27.04 ₱1,655

-3.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱264

$3.65 ₱224

18.36%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱162

$2.63 ₱161

0.76%

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

$0.96 ₱58.6

$0.81 ₱49.57

18.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.24

$0.45 ₱27.54

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.4

$1.48 ₱90.4

3.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱167

$2.61 ₱160

4.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱116

$1.89 ₱116

0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.5

$1.39 ₱84.9

-4.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.6

$1.09 ₱66.8

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱556

$9.30 ₱569

-2.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱313

$5.11 ₱313

0.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱509

$8.79 ₱538

-5.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱213

$2.73 ₱167

27.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱112

$1.81 ₱111

1.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$3.16 ₱193

15.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.21 ₱73.9

104.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$1.92 ₱117

39.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱189

$3.18 ₱194

-2.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$1.81 ₱111

9.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.73

$0.76 ₱46.67

-7.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱609

$8.70 ₱532

14.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.6

$1.40 ₱85.7

3.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$2.24 ₱137

-4.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.48

$0.22 ₱13.40

131.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱738

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.1

$0.86 ₱52.5

1.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.66

$0.22 ₱13.38

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.15 ₱132

-2.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.0

$1.12 ₱68.9

0.89%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

1.13%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

11.16%

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

$136 ₱8,317

$129 ₱7,908

5.17%

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

$22.22 ₱1,360

$32.23 ₱1,973

-31.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,690

$26.63 ₱1,630

3.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,616

$43.69 ₱2,675

-2.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱431

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱408

$6.55 ₱401

1.83%

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

$363 ₱22.2K

$153 ₱9,370

137.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱694.8K

$11.5K ₱704.4K

-1.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,875

$47.26 ₱2,893

-0.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,122

$33.53 ₱2,053

3.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,084

$69.0 ₱4,222

20.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,830

$47.11 ₱2,884

-1.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱29.9K

$582 ₱35.6K

-16.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.1K

$321 ₱19.7K

-18.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.4K

$1,969 ₱120.5K

-13.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.4K

$813 ₱49.8K

-22.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱270.2K

$4,093 ₱250.5K

7.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱154.6K

$1,377 ₱84.3K

83.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.1K

$483 ₱29.6K

1.79%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Taguig City: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Manila versus $582 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 2% higher in Manila. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Manila versus $27.00 in Taguig City. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Manila vs $226 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 $1,452 per month in Manila and $1,446 in Taguig City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $153 in Taguig City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Manila, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Taguig City, where all-in costs run around $964, than in Manila at $968. In Taguig 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 $964 in Taguig 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 Taguig 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.