Cost of Living Comparison Between Tagbilaran City and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Tagbilaran City and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $723 per month in Tagbilaran City vs $968 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,174 per month in Tagbilaran City vs $1,526 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,624 per month in Tagbilaran City vs $2,085 in Manila, rent included.

Tagbilaran City is about 25% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tagbilaran City and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Tagbilaran City 46% lower, Manila 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ₱273

$5.40 ₱331

-17.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.47 ₱1,314

$26.20 ₱1,604

-18.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.45 ₱211

$4.32 ₱264

-20.14%

Cappuccino

$2.61 ₱160

$2.65 ₱162

-1.51%

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

$0.81 ₱49.50

$0.96 ₱58.6

-15.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₱28.06

$0.54 ₱33.24

-14.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 ₱71.8

$1.53 ₱93.4

-23.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱128

$2.73 ₱167

-23.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 ₱107

$1.90 ₱116

-7.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 ₱66.0

$1.33 ₱81.5

-18.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.89 ₱54.3

$1.09 ₱66.6

-18.35%

Eggs

$1.98 ₱121

$2.11 ₱129

-6.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.82 ₱663

$9.09 ₱556

19.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 ₱281

$5.12 ₱313

-10.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 ₱462

$8.32 ₱509

-9.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 ₱212

$3.48 ₱213

-0.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 ₱82.5

$1.83 ₱112

-26.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.34 ₱204

$3.65 ₱224

-8.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱111

$2.48 ₱152

-27.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 ₱137

$2.68 ₱164

-16.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.41 ₱148

$3.09 ₱189

-22.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ₱60.2

$1.99 ₱122

-50.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱41.54

$0.70 ₱42.73

-2.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 ₱162

$3.36 ₱206

-21.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.38 ₱391

$9.94 ₱609

-35.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₱61.2

$1.45 ₱88.6

-31.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱72.3

$2.15 ₱131

-45.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.22

$0.51 ₱31.48

-45.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱738

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.0

$0.87 ₱53.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.05

$0.27 ₱16.66

-14.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 ₱160

$2.09 ₱128

25.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.5

$1.13 ₱69.0

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

$28.0K ₱1.7M

$26.5K ₱1.6M

5.65%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$23.0K ₱1.4M

-5.02%

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

$75.5 ₱4,623

$136 ₱8,317

-44.42%

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

$27.09 ₱1,658

$22.22 ₱1,360

21.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.46 ₱1,803

$27.60 ₱1,690

6.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.91 ₱2,076

$42.74 ₱2,616

-20.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.39 ₱269

$7.04 ₱431

-37.64%

Cinema Ticket

$4.11 ₱251

$6.67 ₱408

-38.38%

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

$232 ₱14.2K

$363 ₱22.2K

-36.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,895 ₱238.4K

$11.4K ₱694.8K

-65.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 ₱2,833

$46.97 ₱2,875

-1.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.90 ₱1,218

$34.66 ₱2,122

-42.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.9 ₱4,402

$83.1 ₱5,084

-13.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.2 ₱3,377

$46.23 ₱2,830

19.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$213 ₱13.0K

$488 ₱29.9K

-56.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 ₱9,283

$263 ₱16.1K

-42.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 ₱32.2K

$1,705 ₱104.4K

-69.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$381 ₱23.3K

$627 ₱38.4K

-39.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$798 ₱48.9K

$4,414 ₱270.2K

-81.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$487 ₱29.8K

$2,526 ₱154.6K

-80.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 ₱10.9K

$492 ₱30.1K

-63.66%

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 Tagbilaran City: July 26, 2026

Last update for Manila: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $213 in Tagbilaran City versus $488 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 175% 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 $21.00 in Tagbilaran City versus $26.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $209 vs $240 – making Tagbilaran City 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

Tagbilaran City vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $723 in Tagbilaran City, $968 in Manila – roughly 34% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,085 per month in Tagbilaran City and $1,452 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tagbilaran City, 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 $723 in Tagbilaran City and $968 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $232 per month in Tagbilaran City and $363 in Manila. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tagbilaran City, where all-in costs run around $723, than in Manila at $968. In Tagbilaran City 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 $723 in Tagbilaran City to $968 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 Tagbilaran City. 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.