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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $632 in Tarlac City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $949 in Tarlac City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,266 in Tarlac City, rent included.

Manila costs about 52% more than Tarlac City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Tarlac City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Tarlac City 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$2.73 ₱168

97.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$14.93 ₱921

79.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.58 ₱221

26.82%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$1.58 ₱97.5

65.82%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.80 ₱49.51

22.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.26 ₱15.88

107.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$0.93 ₱57.1

59.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$1.81 ₱111

50.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$1.59 ₱98.0

23.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.53 ₱94.3

-8.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$1.00 ₱61.5

3.00%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.05 ₱126

0.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$9.07 ₱559

0.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$3.09 ₱190

68.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$5.92 ₱365

46.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$2.87 ₱177

18.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.58 ₱97.3

14.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$2.08 ₱128

75.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.47 ₱90.5

71.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$1.39 ₱85.8

102.16%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$1.18 ₱72.7

161.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$0.93 ₱57.2

113.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.89 ₱54.9

-22.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$2.92 ₱180

17.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$3.92 ₱242

154.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$0.82 ₱50.8

81.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.50 ₱92.8

46.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.26 ₱15.86

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

$7.78 ₱480

52.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.82 ₱50.5

13.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.22 ₱13.53

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.15 ₱133

0.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.11 ₱68.7

0.90%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$28.6K ₱1.8M

-6.98%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

19.32%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$97.9 ₱6,036

37.60%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$15.90 ₱981

38.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$26.56 ₱1,638

5.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$44.37 ₱2,736

-5.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$17.44 ₱1,076

-59.86%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$6.31 ₱389

6.66%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$170 ₱10.5K

114.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$14.0K ₱862.7K

-17.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$45.12 ₱2,783

4.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$26.76 ₱1,651

30.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$51.0 ₱3,146

60.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$37.11 ₱2,289

23.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$131 ₱8,051

274.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$103 ₱6,327

163.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$266 ₱16.4K

535.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$176 ₱10.8K

258.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

$386 ₱23.8K

1021.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

$307 ₱18.9K

760.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$216 ₱13.3K

109.76%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tarlac City: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $131 in Tarlac 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 110% 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 $15.00 in Tarlac City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $179 – making Tarlac 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 Tarlac City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $963 in Manila, $632 in Tarlac City – roughly 52% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $948 in Tarlac City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tarlac 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 $963 in Manila and $632 in Tarlac City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 52% less in Tarlac City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tarlac City, where all-in costs run around $632, than in Manila at $963. In Tarlac 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 $632 in Tarlac City to $963 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 Tarlac 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.