Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Tuguegarao Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Tuguegarao

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $631 in Tuguegarao, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,012 in Tuguegarao, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,393 in Tuguegarao, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$1.74 ₱107

209.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,656

$13.16 ₱812

103.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱268

$2.60 ₱160

66.92%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.34 ₱144

17.52%

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

$0.96 ₱59.0

$0.51 ₱31.67

88.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.33 ₱20.48

51.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.38 ₱85.3

7.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.93 ₱119

35.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱117

$1.82 ₱112

3.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.4

$1.25 ₱77.2

10.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.81 ₱50.1

29.63%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.27 ₱140

-3.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$6.43 ₱397

49.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$3.77 ₱233

37.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$8.62 ₱532

-3.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.74 ₱169

27.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.79 ₱111

0.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.39 ₱147

49.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.17 ₱72.1

112.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$1.81 ₱112

52.49%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.29 ₱141

32.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$0.72 ₱44.71

179.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.60

$0.71 ₱43.73

-9.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.18 ₱134

52.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$8.81 ₱543

10.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.07 ₱66.2

39.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$2.25 ₱139

-4.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.93

$0.26 ₱15.94

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱741

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.93 ₱57.3

-7.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.38

$0.24 ₱14.90

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.35 ₱145

-8.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.9

$1.14 ₱70.6

1.75%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

-17.72%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

11.64%

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

$138 ₱8,535

$35.99 ₱2,221

284.33%

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

$22.24 ₱1,372

$17.56 ₱1,084

26.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,710

$26.12 ₱1,612

6.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,555

$33.28 ₱2,053

24.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.46 ₱275

54.48%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$5.89 ₱364

11.71%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$150 ₱9,269

137.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.8K

$4,809 ₱296.7K

138.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,864

$49.65 ₱3,064

-6.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,167

$27.18 ₱1,677

29.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,084

$45.03 ₱2,779

82.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,825

$27.05 ₱1,669

69.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$261 ₱16.1K

91.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$179 ₱11.0K

48.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.9K

$578 ₱35.7K

191.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$399 ₱24.6K

59.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱157.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$212 ₱13.1K

127.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

4.5

67.11%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for Tuguegarao: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $261 in Tuguegarao. 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 127% 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 $13.00 in Tuguegarao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $196 – making Tuguegarao 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 Tuguegarao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $959 in Manila, $631 in Tuguegarao – roughly 52% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $946 in Tuguegarao. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tuguegarao, 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 $631 in Tuguegarao. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $150 in Tuguegarao. 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 Tuguegarao, where all-in costs run around $631, than in Manila at $959. In Tuguegarao 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 $631 in Tuguegarao 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 Tuguegarao. 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.