Cost of Living Comparison Between Panglao and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Panglao and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $804 per month in Panglao vs $958 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,222 per month in Panglao vs $1,515 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,640 per month in Panglao vs $2,073 in Manila, rent included.

Panglao is about 16% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Panglao and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Panglao 40% lower, Manila 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.54 ₱276

$5.45 ₱331

-16.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.24 ₱743

$26.28 ₱1,596

-53.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.56 ₱277

$4.32 ₱263

5.56%

Cappuccino

$2.55 ₱155

$2.71 ₱164

-5.90%

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

$0.81 ₱49.25

$0.91 ₱55.0

-10.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₱15.71

$0.50 ₱30.58

-48.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 ₱94.0

$1.50 ₱91.0

3.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱117

$2.63 ₱160

-26.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ₱106

$1.89 ₱115

-7.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 ₱63.2

$1.38 ₱83.8

-24.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱62.8

$1.08 ₱65.9

-4.63%

Eggs

$1.91 ₱116

$2.14 ₱130

-10.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.57 ₱581

$9.52 ₱578

0.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.28 ₱320

$5.33 ₱324

-0.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 ₱470

$8.37 ₱508

-7.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.17 ₱132

$3.39 ₱206

-35.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₱89.2

$1.82 ₱111

-19.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 ₱127

$3.66 ₱222

-42.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 ₱120

$2.49 ₱151

-20.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 ₱156

$2.78 ₱169

-7.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 ₱155

$3.05 ₱185

-16.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₱60.5

$2.04 ₱124

-50.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₱31.02

$0.65 ₱39.71

-21.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.73 ₱166

$3.42 ₱208

-20.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.34 ₱324

$9.50 ₱577

-43.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ₱53.8

$1.44 ₱87.5

-38.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 ₱106

$2.14 ₱130

-18.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.06

$0.51 ₱31.13

-45.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 ₱719

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 ₱54.1

$0.91 ₱55.5

-2.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱13.90

$0.25 ₱15.18

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 ₱165

$2.08 ₱126

30.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 ₱62.9

$1.16 ₱70.3

-10.34%

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

$30.0K ₱1.8M

$26.3K ₱1.6M

14.09%

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

$27.4K ₱1.7M

$22.4K ₱1.4M

22.65%

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

$96.3 ₱5,844

$136 ₱8,261

-29.25%

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

$9.07 ₱551

$22.24 ₱1,350

-59.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.96 ₱1,637

$27.14 ₱1,648

-0.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.83 ₱901

$42.15 ₱2,559

-64.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.35 ₱264

$6.88 ₱418

-36.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.38 ₱266

$6.58 ₱400

-33.43%

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

$229 ₱13.9K

$362 ₱22.0K

-36.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,923 ₱238.2K

$11.2K ₱681.7K

-65.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.19 ₱2,805

$46.99 ₱2,853

-1.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.10 ₱1,403

$35.37 ₱2,148

-34.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 ₱4,524

$82.4 ₱5,001

-9.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.5 ₱3,187

$46.51 ₱2,824

12.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$328 ₱19.9K

$491 ₱29.8K

-33.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 ₱17.2K

$268 ₱16.3K

6.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$698 ₱42.4K

$1,726 ₱104.8K

-59.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 ₱30.1K

$621 ₱37.7K

-20.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$964 ₱58.6K

$4,269 ₱259.2K

-77.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$861 ₱52.3K

$2,574 ₱156.3K

-66.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$130 ₱7,887

$487 ₱29.5K

-73.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.38%

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

Last update for Panglao: June 8, 2026

Last update for Manila: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $328 in Panglao versus $491 in Manila. 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 275% 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 $12.00 in Panglao versus $26.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $242 – making Panglao 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

Panglao vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $804 in Panglao, $958 in Manila – roughly 19% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,207 per month in Panglao and $1,437 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Panglao, 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 $804 in Panglao and $958 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $229 per month in Panglao and $362 in Manila. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Panglao, where all-in costs run around $804, than in Manila at $958. In Panglao 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 $804 in Panglao to $958 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 Panglao. 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.