Cost of Living Comparison Between Pangasinan and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Pangasinan and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Pangasinan vs $963 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,252 per month in Pangasinan vs $1,522 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,658 per month in Pangasinan vs $2,081 in Manila, rent included.

Pangasinan is about 12% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Pangasinan and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Pangasinan 37% lower, Manila 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.35 ₱82.6

$5.39 ₱330

-74.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.91 ₱912

$26.79 ₱1,639

-44.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.03 ₱185

$4.54 ₱278

-33.26%

Cappuccino

$0.94 ₱57.4

$2.62 ₱160

-64.12%

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

$0.46 ₱28.16

$0.98 ₱60.2

-53.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₱15.88

$0.54 ₱32.93

-51.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₱82.9

$1.48 ₱90.8

-8.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 ₱132

$2.73 ₱167

-20.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 ₱74.0

$1.96 ₱120

-38.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 ₱56.8

$1.40 ₱85.4

-33.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 ₱50.6

$1.03 ₱63.2

-19.42%

Eggs

$2.27 ₱139

$2.07 ₱127

9.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 ₱485

$9.11 ₱557

-13.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.38 ₱268

$5.20 ₱318

-15.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 ₱474

$8.70 ₱533

-11.03%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 ₱273

$3.40 ₱208

31.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱122

$1.81 ₱111

10.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱158

$3.66 ₱224

-29.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱140

$2.52 ₱154

-9.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 ₱207

$2.81 ₱172

20.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 ₱174

$3.09 ₱189

-8.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₱69.0

$1.99 ₱122

-43.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₱61.5

$0.69 ₱41.97

44.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 ₱181

$3.44 ₱210

-13.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.04 ₱492

$9.98 ₱611

-19.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.5

$1.49 ₱91.4

-16.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 ₱141

$2.19 ₱134

5.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.29

$0.48 ₱29.54

-41.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱724

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱46.99

$0.93 ₱56.7

-17.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.67

$0.27 ₱16.58

-51.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 ₱214

$2.16 ₱132

62.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱67.8

$1.12 ₱68.2

-0.89%

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

$33.3K ₱2.0M

$26.6K ₱1.6M

25.42%

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

$22.1K ₱1.4M

$23.0K ₱1.4M

-3.89%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$135 ₱8,238

28.35%

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

$26.91 ₱1,646

$22.00 ₱1,346

22.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.75 ₱2,187

$27.98 ₱1,712

27.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.68 ₱2,060

$42.05 ₱2,573

-19.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.50 ₱276

$7.00 ₱428

-35.71%

Cinema Ticket

$8.01 ₱490

$6.73 ₱411

19.02%

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

$153 ₱9,370

$365 ₱22.3K

-58.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,366 ₱267.1K

$11.6K ₱707.4K

-62.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.6 ₱3,710

$46.97 ₱2,874

29.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.42 ₱2,167

$35.01 ₱2,142

1.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 ₱5,183

$81.7 ₱5,000

3.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.4 ₱3,265

$45.98 ₱2,813

16.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 ₱16.6K

$489 ₱29.9K

-44.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 ₱11.0K

$270 ₱16.5K

-33.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 ₱36.0K

$1,687 ₱103.2K

-65.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₱24.5K

$630 ₱38.5K

-36.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,066 ₱126.4K

$4,325 ₱264.6K

-52.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱161.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

7.52

-11.30%

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

Last update for Pangasinan: April 25, 2026

Last update for Manila: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $271 in Pangasinan versus $489 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 $15.00 in Pangasinan versus $27.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $218 vs $243 – making Pangasinan 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

Pangasinan vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $845 in Pangasinan, $963 in Manila – roughly 14% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,268 per month in Pangasinan and $1,444 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pangasinan, 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 $845 in Pangasinan and $963 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $153 per month in Pangasinan and $365 in Manila. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pangasinan, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Manila at $963. In Pangasinan 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 $845 in Pangasinan to $963 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 Pangasinan. 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.