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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $927 per month in Manila vs $725 in Taytay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $1,108 in Taytay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,491 in Taytay, rent included.

Manila costs about 28% more than Taytay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Taytay are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Taytay 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱322

$4.67 ₱291

10.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,613

$19.60 ₱1,222

31.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱245

$3.11 ₱194

26.37%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱157

$2.46 ₱154

2.44%

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

$1.36 ₱84.6

$0.77 ₱48.02

76.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.8

$0.47 ₱29.03

76.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.4

$1.14 ₱71.4

-0.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱171

$1.64 ₱102

67.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱118

$1.63 ₱101

16.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.1

$1.13 ₱70.5

26.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.1

$1.02 ₱63.6

-3.92%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱139

$2.10 ₱131

6.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱498

$4.98 ₱311

60.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱292

$3.34 ₱208

40.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱424

$7.14 ₱445

-4.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱207

$2.28 ₱142

45.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$1.56 ₱97.6

17.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱186

$2.43 ₱152

22.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.04 ₱65.1

78.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱141

$1.68 ₱105

34.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱168

$1.81 ₱113

49.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$0.67 ₱41.60

213.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.65

$0.53 ₱32.91

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱200

$2.99 ₱186

7.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱599

$8.88 ₱554

8.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.6

$0.92 ₱57.2

43.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$2.11 ₱131

-0.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱28.89

$0.25 ₱15.56

84.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱791

$11.31 ₱705

12.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.82 ₱51.1

1.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.21 ₱13.07

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.90 ₱118

-2.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.1

$1.21 ₱75.6

2.48%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

-0.35%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

1.00%

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

$122 ₱7,607

$122 ₱7,602

0.07%

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

$14.83 ₱925

$15.13 ₱943

-1.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,494

$23.63 ₱1,473

1.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,648

$32.22 ₱2,009

31.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱361

$4.73 ₱295

22.41%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱429

$5.32 ₱332

29.32%

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

$621 ₱38.7K

$133 ₱8,286

367.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱552.8K

$8,800 ₱548.8K

0.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,586

$28.63 ₱1,786

100.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,749

$19.77 ₱1,233

41.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,840

$71.0 ₱4,424

9.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,609

$55.2 ₱3,440

4.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.3K

$273 ₱17.0K

95.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱17.9K

$175 ₱10.9K

63.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.2K

$508 ₱31.7K

279.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.4K

$349 ₱21.8K

90.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱271.6K

$2,566 ₱160.0K

69.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱159.3K

$1,020 ₱63.6K

150.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.5K

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 8, 2026

Last update for Taytay: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $273 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $20.00 in Taytay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $173 – 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: $927 in Manila, $725 in Taytay – roughly 28% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,391 per month in Manila and $1,088 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 $927 in Manila and $725 in Taytay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 12% less in Taytay. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Taytay, where all-in costs run around $725, than in Manila at $927. 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 $725 in Taytay to $927 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.