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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $771 in Talisay City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,190 in Talisay City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $1,608 in Talisay City, rent included.

Manila costs about 24% more than Talisay City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Talisay City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Talisay City 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$3.59 ₱221

47.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$17.81 ₱1,097

52.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$3.34 ₱206

36.23%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$2.37 ₱146

15.19%

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

$0.96 ₱59.2

$0.77 ₱47.62

24.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.39 ₱24.25

28.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.31 ₱80.5

17.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$2.09 ₱129

26.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.91 ₱118

-0.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$1.27 ₱78.0

4.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$0.96 ₱58.9

11.46%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$2.06 ₱127

0.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$8.23 ₱507

12.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$4.30 ₱265

21.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱526

$7.70 ₱474

11.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$2.88 ₱178

22.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.55 ₱95.3

16.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.61 ₱161

37.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.59 ₱98.0

57.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$2.31 ₱142

20.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$2.49 ₱154

26.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.12 ₱68.9

76.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.77 ₱47.13

-11.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.77 ₱170

19.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$7.48 ₱461

27.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.16 ₱71.4

25.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.96 ₱121

7.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.26 ₱15.83

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.81 ₱50.1

8.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.24 ₱14.80

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.09 ₱129

-0.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.11 ₱68.3

5.41%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$26.6K ₱1.6M

-1.82%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$20.3K ₱1.3M

12.31%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$113 ₱6,933

20.26%

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

$21.56 ₱1,327

$32.61 ₱2,008

-33.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$28.00 ₱1,724

-1.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$33.66 ₱2,072

23.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.47 ₱275

52.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$5.84 ₱360

18.49%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$150 ₱9,254

141.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$4,331 ₱266.7K

167.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$45.51 ₱2,802

3.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$26.29 ₱1,619

30.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$75.0 ₱4,619

9.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$54.0 ₱3,326

-12.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$265 ₱16.3K

83.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$175 ₱10.8K

54.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$582 ₱35.8K

197.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$394 ₱24.3K

62.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$2,750 ₱169.3K

57.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$995 ₱61.2K

161.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

$346 ₱21.3K

34.82%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Talisay City: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Manila versus $265 in Talisay 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 35% 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 $18.00 in Talisay City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $206 – making Talisay 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 Talisay City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $957 in Manila, $771 in Talisay City – roughly 24% 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 $1,157 in Talisay City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Talisay 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 $771 in Talisay City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $150 in Talisay City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Manila and $771 in Talisay City, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $771 in Talisay 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 Talisay 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.