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 $934 per month in Manila vs $738 in Talisay City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,491 per month in Manila vs $1,126 in Talisay City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,048 per month in Manila vs $1,514 in Talisay City, rent included.

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

Both Manila and Talisay City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 32% lower, Talisay City 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.70 ₱356

$3.77 ₱236

51.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.88 ₱1,618

$16.92 ₱1,058

52.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 ₱257

$2.78 ₱174

47.84%

Cappuccino

$2.49 ₱155

$2.24 ₱140

11.16%

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

$1.37 ₱85.5

$0.63 ₱39.39

117.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₱52.4

$0.35 ₱21.60

140.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₱71.6

$1.08 ₱67.3

5.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 ₱167

$1.90 ₱119

40.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.69 ₱106

11.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ₱91.3

$1.11 ₱69.7

31.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱61.7

$0.89 ₱55.9

11.24%

Eggs

$2.32 ₱145

$1.90 ₱119

22.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 ₱491

$5.47 ₱342

43.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 ₱310

$4.22 ₱264

17.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.07 ₱442

$7.23 ₱452

-2.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱212

$2.68 ₱168

26.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 ₱121

$1.66 ₱104

16.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱188

$2.35 ₱147

28.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 ₱111

$1.32 ₱82.8

34.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 ₱140

$2.17 ₱135

3.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 ₱162

$1.93 ₱121

34.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 ₱133

$0.91 ₱57.2

132.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.90

$0.60 ₱37.66

-6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 ₱190

$2.94 ₱184

3.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 ₱616

$7.33 ₱458

34.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.0

$0.84 ₱52.6

52.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱132

$2.26 ₱141

-6.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.23

$0.27 ₱16.97

74.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.73 ₱796

$11.10 ₱694

14.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.83 ₱51.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.42

$0.26 ₱16.37

-11.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 ₱124

$1.95 ₱122

1.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.4

$1.17 ₱73.1

5.98%

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

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$18.3K ₱1.1M

18.86%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$20.0K ₱1.2M

-1.30%

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

$121 ₱7,597

$123 ₱7,710

-1.46%

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

$15.06 ₱942

$17.08 ₱1,068

-11.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.90 ₱1,495

$25.08 ₱1,568

-4.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.84 ₱2,741

$33.69 ₱2,107

30.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.97 ₱374

$5.27 ₱329

13.28%

Cinema Ticket

$7.03 ₱440

$4.96 ₱310

41.73%

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

$629 ₱39.3K

$131 ₱8,197

380.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,036 ₱565.0K

$8,171 ₱511.0K

10.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 ₱3,698

$30.50 ₱1,907

93.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.07 ₱1,756

$20.04 ₱1,253

40.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 ₱4,724

$70.8 ₱4,426

6.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,620

$52.3 ₱3,269

10.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$537 ₱33.6K

$264 ₱16.5K

103.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 ₱17.7K

$193 ₱12.1K

46.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,898 ₱118.7K

$463 ₱28.9K

310.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$671 ₱41.9K

$391 ₱24.5K

71.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,351 ₱272.1K

$2,651 ₱165.8K

64.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,494 ₱156.0K

$912 ₱57.0K

173.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$484 ₱30.2K

$341 ₱21.3K

41.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.75

10.07%

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

Last update for Manila: August 31, 2026

Last update for Talisay City: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $537 in Manila versus $264 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 42% 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $17.00 in Talisay City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $183 – 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: $934 in Manila, $738 in Talisay City – roughly 27% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,401 per month in Manila and $1,107 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 $934 in Manila and $738 in Talisay City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 15% less in Talisay City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Talisay City, where all-in costs run around $738, than in Manila at $934. In Talisay 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 $738 in Talisay City to $934 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.