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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $624 in Tuguegarao, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,017 in Tuguegarao, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $1,411 in Tuguegarao, rent included.

Manila costs about 53% 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

$5.28 ₱325

$1.82 ₱112

190.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,672

$13.26 ₱818

104.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱281

$2.59 ₱160

75.68%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱169

$2.31 ₱142

18.18%

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

$0.96 ₱59.4

$0.52 ₱32.01

84.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱31.01

$0.33 ₱20.59

51.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.9

$1.43 ₱88.2

7.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$1.93 ₱119

37.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.83 ₱113

3.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱82.1

$1.25 ₱77.1

6.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.2

$0.78 ₱47.89

37.18%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$2.20 ₱136

-5.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱573

$6.39 ₱394

45.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$3.84 ₱237

35.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱527

$8.45 ₱521

1.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$2.65 ₱163

33.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.83 ₱113

-1.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.29 ₱141

56.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.20 ₱74.1

108.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$1.83 ₱113

51.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱195

$2.28 ₱140

38.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$0.67 ₱41.07

195.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.24

$0.71 ₱43.82

-4.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.09 ₱129

58.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱586

$8.76 ₱540

8.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.2

$1.06 ₱65.5

37.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.36 ₱146

-10.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.46

$0.26 ₱15.91

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱749

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.1

$0.92 ₱56.6

-4.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.68

$0.22 ₱13.48

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.42 ₱149

-14.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.4

$1.10 ₱68.0

6.36%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$32.3K ₱2.0M

-19.39%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

11.34%

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

$135 ₱8,351

$34.77 ₱2,144

289.47%

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

$21.56 ₱1,330

$17.94 ₱1,106

20.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,701

$26.25 ₱1,619

5.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$33.76 ₱2,082

22.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.49 ₱277

51.89%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱427

$5.68 ₱350

21.83%

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

$363 ₱22.4K

$151 ₱9,304

140.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱714.6K

$4,781 ₱294.8K

142.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,905

$48.24 ₱2,975

-2.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,121

$27.50 ₱1,696

25.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,049

$44.13 ₱2,722

85.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,924

$27.10 ₱1,671

74.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$270 ₱16.6K

79.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$176 ₱10.8K

54.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.6K

$593 ₱36.6K

191.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$401 ₱24.7K

59.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱267.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.8K

$211 ₱13.0K

121.15%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Tuguegarao: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Manila versus $270 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 121% 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: $241 vs $195 – 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: $957 in Manila, $624 in Tuguegarao – roughly 53% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Manila and $936 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 $957 in Manila and $624 in Tuguegarao. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $151 in Tuguegarao. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Manila and $624 in Tuguegarao, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $624 in Tuguegarao to $957 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.