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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $927 per month in Manila vs $447 in Tuguegarao, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $733 in Tuguegarao, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,018 in Tuguegarao, rent included.

Manila costs about 107% more than Tuguegarao, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Manila and Tuguegarao are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Tuguegarao 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱322

$1.56 ₱97.5

230.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,613

$16.89 ₱1,053

53.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱245

$2.79 ₱174

40.86%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱157

$1.85 ₱115

36.22%

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

$1.36 ₱84.6

$0.47 ₱29.19

189.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.8

$0.28 ₱17.37

196.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.4

$1.01 ₱63.2

11.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱171

$1.55 ₱96.8

76.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱118

$1.63 ₱102

16.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.1

$1.17 ₱72.8

22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.1

$0.74 ₱46.06

32.43%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱139

$2.00 ₱125

11.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱498

$5.23 ₱326

52.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱292

$3.52 ₱219

33.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱424

$7.77 ₱485

-12.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱207

$2.23 ₱139

48.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$1.59 ₱99.3

15.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱186

$2.44 ₱152

22.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.04 ₱64.8

78.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱141

$1.76 ₱110

28.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱168

$1.76 ₱110

53.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$0.61 ₱37.98

244.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.65

$0.53 ₱32.76

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱200

$1.89 ₱118

69.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱599

$8.69 ₱542

10.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.6

$0.89 ₱55.7

48.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$2.06 ₱128

1.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱28.89

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱791

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.77 ₱47.80

7.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.23 ₱14.25

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.89 ₱118

-1.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.1

$1.14 ₱71.2

8.77%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

-0.09%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

0.86%

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

$122 ₱7,607

$32.48 ₱2,026

275.58%

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

$14.83 ₱925

$17.60 ₱1,097

-15.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,494

$23.04 ₱1,437

3.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,648

$24.27 ₱1,514

74.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱361

$4.69 ₱293

23.45%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱429

$5.24 ₱327

31.30%

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

$621 ₱38.7K

$134 ₱8,353

363.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱552.8K

$10.9K ₱677.1K

-18.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,586

$29.00 ₱1,808

98.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,749

$19.17 ₱1,196

46.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,840

$39.31 ₱2,452

97.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,609

$23.81 ₱1,485

143.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.3K

$127 ₱7,924

320.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱17.9K

$62.6 ₱3,901

358.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.2K

$188 ₱11.7K

926.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.4K

$129 ₱8,058

413.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱271.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱159.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.5K

$205 ₱12.8K

130.93%

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 Tuguegarao: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $127 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 131% 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $17.00 in Tuguegarao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $175 – 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: $927 in Manila, $447 in Tuguegarao – roughly 107% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,391 per month in Manila and $671 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 $927 in Manila and $447 in Tuguegarao. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $621 per month in Manila and $134 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 $447, than in Manila at $927. 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 $447 in Tuguegarao 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 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.