Cost of Living Comparison Between Palawan and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Palawan and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $798 per month in Palawan vs $927 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,222 per month in Palawan vs $1,501 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,646 per month in Palawan vs $2,074 in Manila, rent included.

Palawan is about 14% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Palawan and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Palawan 42% lower, Manila 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.46 ₱216

$5.16 ₱322

-32.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.76 ₱1,232

$25.86 ₱1,613

-23.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.41 ₱213

$3.93 ₱245

-13.23%

Cappuccino

$2.57 ₱160

$2.52 ₱157

1.98%

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

$0.78 ₱48.76

$1.36 ₱84.6

-42.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.68

$0.83 ₱51.8

-51.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 ₱80.5

$1.13 ₱70.4

14.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱130

$2.74 ₱171

-24.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.90 ₱118

-2.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.6

$1.43 ₱89.1

-13.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 ₱58.9

$0.98 ₱61.1

-4.08%

Eggs

$2.09 ₱130

$2.23 ₱139

-6.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.09 ₱505

$7.99 ₱498

1.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 ₱268

$4.69 ₱292

-8.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.92 ₱494

$6.81 ₱424

16.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 ₱186

$3.32 ₱207

-9.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₱97.9

$1.83 ₱114

-14.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 ₱164

$2.98 ₱186

-11.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ₱97.2

$1.86 ₱116

-16.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱140

$2.26 ₱141

-0.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 ₱163

$2.70 ₱168

-3.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.4

$2.10 ₱131

-47.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₱47.07

$0.56 ₱34.65

33.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.80 ₱175

$3.20 ₱200

-12.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.71 ₱419

$9.61 ₱599

-30.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.4

$1.32 ₱82.6

-13.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$2.10 ₱131

-3.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.51

$0.46 ₱28.89

-39.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.34 ₱707

$12.68 ₱791

-10.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.64

$0.83 ₱52.1

-8.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.70

$0.23 ₱14.39

-4.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 ₱132

$1.86 ₱116

13.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱71.3

$1.24 ₱77.1

-8.06%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$21.3K ₱1.3M

22.15%

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

$20.7K ₱1.3M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

6.83%

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

$113 ₱7,076

$122 ₱7,607

-6.98%

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

$33.33 ₱2,079

$14.83 ₱925

124.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.41 ₱1,709

$23.95 ₱1,494

14.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.18 ₱2,131

$42.46 ₱2,648

-19.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.51 ₱281

$5.79 ₱361

-22.11%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ₱361

$6.88 ₱429

-15.99%

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

$151 ₱9,394

$621 ₱38.7K

-75.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,317 ₱269.2K

$8,865 ₱552.8K

-51.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.70 ₱2,912

$57.5 ₱3,586

-18.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.76 ₱1,669

$28.04 ₱1,749

-4.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.9 ₱4,736

$77.6 ₱4,840

-2.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.0 ₱3,308

$57.9 ₱3,609

-8.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$264 ₱16.5K

$534 ₱33.3K

-50.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₱10.9K

$287 ₱17.9K

-39.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 ₱35.9K

$1,928 ₱120.2K

-70.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$396 ₱24.7K

$664 ₱41.4K

-40.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,362 ₱147.3K

$4,356 ₱271.6K

-45.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,024 ₱63.9K

$2,555 ₱159.3K

-59.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

7.43

-10.23%

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

Last update for Palawan: September 8, 2026

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $264 in Palawan versus $534 in Manila. 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 $20.00 in Palawan versus $26.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $220 – making Palawan 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

Palawan vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $798 in Palawan, $927 in Manila – roughly 16% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,198 per month in Palawan and $1,391 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Palawan, 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 $798 in Palawan and $927 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

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

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Palawan, where all-in costs run around $798, than in Manila at $927. In Palawan 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 $798 in Palawan 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 Palawan. 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.