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 $959 per month in Manila vs $523 in Tarlac City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,506 per month in Manila vs $814 in Tarlac City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,052 per month in Manila vs $1,104 in Tarlac City, rent included.

Manila costs about 83% more than Tarlac City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Tarlac City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, Tarlac City 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱340

$1.94 ₱122

179.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,663

$7.78 ₱488

241.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$2.72 ₱170

44.12%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱157

$1.79 ₱112

40.22%

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

$1.39 ₱86.9

$0.49 ₱30.74

183.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.30 ₱18.93

176.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.0

$1.02 ₱64.1

13.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.56 ₱97.6

75.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.61 ₱101

17.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.7

$1.15 ₱71.8

21.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱61.9

$1.02 ₱63.9

-2.94%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$1.88 ₱118

22.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱489

$4.94 ₱310

58.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱309

$2.66 ₱167

85.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱446

$6.11 ₱383

16.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$1.62 ₱101

99.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.59 ₱99.7

18.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$1.95 ₱122

54.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱114

$1.04 ₱65.2

75.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$1.74 ₱109

27.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱164

$1.21 ₱76.0

116.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$0.61 ₱38.22

255.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.08

$0.50 ₱31.28

18.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱199

$2.87 ₱180

10.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱597

$3.81 ₱239

149.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.4

$0.96 ₱60.3

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$1.53 ₱96.0

32.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.22

$0.25 ₱15.72

88.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱805

$8.21 ₱515

56.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.21

$0.75 ₱47.28

2.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.25 ₱15.68

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

$1.31 ₱82.4

49.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.5

$1.08 ₱68.0

17.59%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

0.26%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

1.96%

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

$122 ₱7,632

$88.2 ₱5,529

38.02%

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

$15.16 ₱950

$5.44 ₱341

178.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,504

$23.40 ₱1,466

2.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,670

$40.11 ₱2,514

6.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱357

$16.16 ₱1,013

-64.79%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱431

$5.08 ₱318

35.43%

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

$618 ₱38.7K

$131 ₱8,198

372.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱555.4K

$10.5K ₱660.9K

-15.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,655

$28.77 ₱1,803

102.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,749

$19.79 ₱1,240

41.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,877

$63.1 ₱3,951

23.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,664

$47.80 ₱2,996

22.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.1K

$87.7 ₱5,498

521.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$71.1 ₱4,456

300.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.8K

$250 ₱15.6K

672.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.2K

$167 ₱10.4K

304.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱275.5K

$376 ₱23.5K

1070.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.4K

$290 ₱18.2K

772.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

$215 ₱13.4K

122.19%

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: September 12, 2026

Last update for Tarlac City: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Manila versus $87.7 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 122% 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 $8.00 in Tarlac City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $148 – 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: $959 in Manila, $523 in Tarlac City – roughly 83% 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 $785 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 $959 in Manila and $523 in Tarlac City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 57% 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 $523, than in Manila at $959. 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 $523 in Tarlac 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 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.