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 $959 per month in Manila vs $441 in Tagum City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,506 per month in Manila vs $543 in Tagum City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,052 per month in Manila vs $645 in Tagum City, rent included.

Manila costs about 118% more than Tagum City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Tagum City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, Tagum City 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱341

$5.42 ₱340

0.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,664

$12.66 ₱794

109.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$4.93 ₱309

-20.49%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱158

$2.25 ₱141

11.56%

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

$1.39 ₱87.0

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.3

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.0

$1.88 ₱118

-38.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.47 ₱92.0

86.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.63 ₱102

15.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱62.0

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$1.93 ₱121

19.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱490

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱309

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱446

$8.05 ₱505

-11.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$6.48 ₱406

-50.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱119

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱114

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱165

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.12

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱199

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱597

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.5

$1.32 ₱82.6

-3.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.25

$0.25 ₱15.76

88.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱806

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.26

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.44

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.5

$1.20 ₱75.5

5.83%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

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

$122 ₱7,639

$56.3 ₱3,531

116.32%

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

$15.16 ₱951

$7.80 ₱489

94.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,505

$27.50 ₱1,725

-12.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,673

$24.27 ₱1,523

75.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱357

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱432

$3.18 ₱200

116.35%

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

$618 ₱38.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱555.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,658

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,751

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,881

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,667

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.2K

$156 ₱9,789

249.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$128 ₱8,005

123.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$320 ₱20.0K

503.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱275.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

$205 ₱12.9K

132.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

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

Last update for Manila: September 12, 2026

Last update for Tagum City: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Manila versus $156 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 132% 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 $13.00 in Tagum City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $87.0 – 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: $959 in Manila, $441 in Tagum City – roughly 118% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,439 per month in Manila and $661 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila and $13.00 in Tagum City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $959 in Manila and $441 in Tagum City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tagum City, where all-in costs run around $441, than in Manila at $959. 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 $441 in Tagum City to $959 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.