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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $751 in Tagum City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,543 per month in Manila vs $1,149 in Tagum City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Manila vs $1,546 in Tagum City, rent included.

Manila costs about 27% more than Tagum City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Tagum City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Tagum City 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.22 ₱315

$3.48 ₱210

50.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.52 ₱1,597

$14.22 ₱857

86.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 ₱264

$3.83 ₱231

14.36%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ₱164

$1.65 ₱99.2

64.85%

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

$0.93 ₱55.9

$0.83 ₱49.99

12.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₱30.63

$0.36 ₱21.96

41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱91.7

$1.37 ₱82.2

10.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ₱163

$1.29 ₱77.9

110.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₱117

$1.84 ₱111

5.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 ₱81.9

$1.27 ₱76.5

7.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱65.5

$0.95 ₱56.9

14.74%

Eggs

$2.10 ₱127

$2.08 ₱125

0.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 ₱570

$8.24 ₱496

14.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.24 ₱316

$4.32 ₱260

21.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.78 ₱529

$7.67 ₱462

14.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱205

$2.85 ₱172

19.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₱106

$1.54 ₱92.5

14.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 ₱210

$2.59 ₱156

34.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₱145

$1.56 ₱93.8

54.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 ₱161

$2.21 ₱133

20.81%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 ₱190

$2.65 ₱159

18.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₱122

$1.08 ₱64.9

87.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱41.56

$0.71 ₱42.91

-2.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱202

$2.85 ₱172

17.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.03 ₱604

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱87.9

$1.21 ₱73.1

20.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱129

$1.95 ₱118

9.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.03

$0.26 ₱15.63

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 ₱723

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱55.1

$0.82 ₱49.40

12.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.32

$0.24 ₱14.46

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₱131

$2.12 ₱128

2.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱69.6

$1.09 ₱65.9

6.42%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$26.4K ₱1.6M

1.59%

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

$23.1K ₱1.4M

$20.6K ₱1.2M

12.35%

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

$134 ₱8,058

$114 ₱6,862

17.44%

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

$22.30 ₱1,343

$32.26 ₱1,943

-30.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 ₱1,622

$27.02 ₱1,627

-0.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.13 ₱2,537

$34.35 ₱2,069

22.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.77 ₱408

$4.35 ₱262

55.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.57 ₱395

$5.85 ₱352

12.31%

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

$354 ₱21.3K

$150 ₱9,048

135.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱675.0K

$4,271 ₱257.2K

162.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.31 ₱2,849

$46.08 ₱2,775

2.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.90 ₱2,102

$26.26 ₱1,582

32.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.5 ₱4,966

$76.8 ₱4,625

7.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.21 ₱2,783

$53.8 ₱3,239

-14.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.1K

$265 ₱15.9K

88.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.4K

$178 ₱10.7K

53.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,716 ₱103.3K

$594 ₱35.8K

188.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 ₱38.0K

$392 ₱23.6K

60.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,360 ₱262.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,599 ₱156.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$516 ₱31.1K

$215 ₱12.9K

139.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.67

12.74%

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

Last update for Manila: June 14, 2026

Last update for Tagum City: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $265 in Tagum 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 140% 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 $27.00 in Manila versus $14.00 in Tagum City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $189 – making Tagum 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 Tagum City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $957 in Manila, $751 in Tagum City – roughly 27% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,127 in Tagum City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tagum 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 $957 in Manila and $751 in Tagum City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $354 per month in Manila and $150 in Tagum 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 Tagum City, where all-in costs run around $751, than in Manila at $957. In Tagum 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 $751 in Tagum City to $957 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 Tagum 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.