Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Taytay Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Taytay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $842 in Taytay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,327 in Taytay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,812 in Taytay, rent included.

Manila costs about 14% more than Taytay, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Manila and Taytay are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Taytay 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$5.22 ₱322

3.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$21.10 ₱1,301

27.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.64 ₱225

19.23%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.64 ₱163

4.17%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.91 ₱56.4

5.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.50 ₱30.76

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.54 ₱94.9

-3.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.62 ₱162

-0.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.94 ₱120

-2.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.35 ₱83.2

2.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$1.04 ₱64.0

0.96%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.18 ₱134

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$9.55 ₱589

0.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$5.28 ₱326

-1.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$8.68 ₱535

-4.15%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$3.47 ₱214

0.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.75 ₱108

2.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$3.50 ₱216

2.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$2.39 ₱147

4.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.77 ₱171

-0.36%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$3.18 ₱196

-4.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.98 ₱122

1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.64 ₱39.66

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$3.45 ₱213

-3.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$9.02 ₱556

7.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.45 ₱89.6

2.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$2.13 ₱131

0.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.28 ₱17.28

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.85 ₱52.4

1.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.22 ₱13.49

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.09 ₱129

3.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.12 ₱68.9

3.57%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$26.5K ₱1.6M

-0.96%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

0.13%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$138 ₱8,488

0.48%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$21.61 ₱1,332

2.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$27.34 ₱1,686

1.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$33.90 ₱2,090

22.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.47 ₱276

54.14%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$6.76 ₱417

-2.66%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$149 ₱9,171

139.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,339 ₱267.5K

164.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$46.71 ₱2,880

-0.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$34.85 ₱2,149

0.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$84.0 ₱5,181

-1.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$46.55 ₱2,870

-1.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$262 ₱16.2K

90.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$179 ₱11.0K

47.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$593 ₱36.6K

183.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$388 ₱23.9K

63.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,301 ₱141.9K

89.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$1,116 ₱68.8K

128.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for Taytay: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $262 in Taytay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $21.00 in Taytay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $241 – making Taytay 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 Taytay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $959 in Manila, $842 in Taytay – roughly 14% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $1,264 in Taytay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Taytay, 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 $842 in Taytay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $149 in Taytay. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Taytay, where all-in costs run around $842, than in Manila at $959. In Taytay 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 $842 in Taytay 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 Taytay. 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.