Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacloban and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacloban and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $823 per month in Tacloban vs $963 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,190 per month in Tacloban vs $1,522 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,557 per month in Tacloban vs $2,081 in Manila, rent included.

Tacloban is about 15% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tacloban and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Tacloban 39% lower, Manila 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ₱279

$5.39 ₱330

-15.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.79 ₱1,088

$26.79 ₱1,639

-33.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.71 ₱166

$4.54 ₱278

-40.31%

Cappuccino

$2.54 ₱155

$2.62 ₱160

-3.05%

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

$0.72 ₱43.92

$0.98 ₱60.2

-26.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.54

$0.54 ₱32.93

-29.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 ₱95.7

$1.48 ₱90.8

5.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱129

$2.73 ₱167

-22.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 ₱140

$1.96 ₱120

17.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ₱96.2

$1.40 ₱85.4

12.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱60.4

$1.03 ₱63.2

-3.88%

Eggs

$2.36 ₱144

$2.07 ₱127

14.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.66 ₱775

$9.11 ₱557

38.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.77 ₱292

$5.20 ₱318

-8.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 ₱486

$8.70 ₱533

-8.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱213

$3.40 ₱208

2.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 ₱77.7

$1.81 ₱111

-29.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.42 ₱209

$3.66 ₱224

-6.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 ₱105

$2.52 ₱154

-31.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 ₱163

$2.81 ₱172

-4.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 ₱153

$3.09 ₱189

-19.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 ₱55.8

$1.99 ₱122

-54.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.33

$0.69 ₱41.97

11.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 ₱127

$3.44 ₱210

-39.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.53 ₱400

$9.98 ₱611

-34.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.0

$1.49 ₱91.4

-18.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱139

$2.19 ₱134

3.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₱13.12

$0.48 ₱29.54

-56.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱724

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱50.0

$0.93 ₱56.7

-11.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ₱10.48

$0.27 ₱16.58

-37.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 ₱158

$2.16 ₱132

19.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱66.8

$1.12 ₱68.2

-2.68%

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

$30.4K ₱1.9M

$26.6K ₱1.6M

14.28%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$23.0K ₱1.4M

16.53%

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

$98.7 ₱6,038

$135 ₱8,238

-26.71%

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

$34.34 ₱2,101

$22.00 ₱1,346

56.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.77 ₱1,821

$27.98 ₱1,712

6.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.67 ₱2,121

$42.05 ₱2,573

-17.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.40 ₱269

$7.00 ₱428

-37.14%

Cinema Ticket

$5.80 ₱355

$6.73 ₱411

-13.82%

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

$234 ₱14.3K

$365 ₱22.3K

-35.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,947 ₱241.5K

$11.6K ₱707.4K

-65.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.32 ₱2,834

$46.97 ₱2,874

-1.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.20 ₱1,420

$35.01 ₱2,142

-33.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 ₱4,657

$81.7 ₱5,000

-6.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.2 ₱3,441

$45.98 ₱2,813

22.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 ₱15.1K

$489 ₱29.9K

-49.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$211 ₱12.9K

$270 ₱16.5K

-21.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$787 ₱48.1K

$1,687 ₱103.2K

-53.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ₱14.6K

$630 ₱38.5K

-62.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,354 ₱144.0K

$4,325 ₱264.6K

-45.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,022 ₱123.7K

$2,640 ₱161.5K

-23.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$358 ₱21.9K

$452 ₱27.7K

-20.75%

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 Tacloban: April 27, 2026

Last update for Manila: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $247 in Tacloban 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.

Salaries run about 26% 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 $18.00 in Tacloban versus $27.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $243 – making Tacloban 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

Tacloban vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $823 in Tacloban, $963 in Manila – roughly 17% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,234 per month in Tacloban 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 Tacloban, 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 $823 in Tacloban and $963 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $234 per month in Tacloban and $365 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 Tacloban, where all-in costs run around $823, than in Manila at $963. In Tacloban 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 $823 in Tacloban 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 Tacloban. 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.