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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $632 per month in Tarlac City vs $963 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $949 per month in Tarlac City vs $1,522 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,266 per month in Tarlac City vs $2,081 in Manila, rent included.

Tarlac City is about 34% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tarlac City and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Tarlac City 53% lower, Manila 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.73 ₱168

$5.39 ₱333

-49.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.93 ₱921

$26.79 ₱1,652

-44.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.58 ₱221

$4.54 ₱280

-21.15%

Cappuccino

$1.58 ₱97.5

$2.62 ₱162

-39.69%

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

$0.80 ₱49.51

$0.98 ₱60.7

-18.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₱15.88

$0.54 ₱33.20

-51.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 ₱57.1

$1.48 ₱91.5

-37.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₱111

$2.73 ₱168

-33.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 ₱98.0

$1.96 ₱121

-18.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ₱94.3

$1.40 ₱86.1

9.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱61.5

$1.03 ₱63.7

-2.91%

Eggs

$2.05 ₱126

$2.07 ₱128

-0.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.07 ₱559

$9.11 ₱562

-0.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.09 ₱190

$5.20 ₱321

-40.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.92 ₱365

$8.70 ₱537

-31.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 ₱177

$3.40 ₱210

-15.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 ₱97.3

$1.81 ₱112

-12.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 ₱128

$3.66 ₱226

-43.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 ₱90.5

$2.52 ₱155

-41.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ₱85.8

$2.81 ₱173

-50.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 ₱72.7

$3.09 ₱191

-61.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$1.99 ₱123

-53.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ₱54.9

$0.69 ₱42.31

28.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₱180

$3.44 ₱212

-15.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.92 ₱242

$9.98 ₱616

-60.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₱50.8

$1.49 ₱92.2

-44.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₱92.8

$2.19 ₱135

-31.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.86

$0.48 ₱29.78

-45.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.78 ₱480

$11.83 ₱730

-34.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱50.5

$0.93 ₱57.2

-11.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.53

$0.27 ₱16.72

-18.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 ₱133

$2.16 ₱133

-0.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.7

$1.12 ₱68.8

-0.89%

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

$28.6K ₱1.8M

$26.6K ₱1.6M

7.51%

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

$19.2K ₱1.2M

$23.0K ₱1.4M

-16.19%

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

$97.9 ₱6,036

$135 ₱8,306

-27.33%

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

$15.90 ₱981

$22.00 ₱1,357

-27.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.56 ₱1,638

$27.98 ₱1,726

-5.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.37 ₱2,736

$42.05 ₱2,594

5.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.44 ₱1,076

$7.00 ₱431

149.14%

Cinema Ticket

$6.31 ₱389

$6.73 ₱415

-6.24%

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

$170 ₱10.5K

$365 ₱22.5K

-53.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K ₱862.7K

$11.6K ₱713.2K

20.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.12 ₱2,783

$46.97 ₱2,897

-3.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.76 ₱1,651

$35.01 ₱2,159

-23.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.0 ₱3,146

$81.7 ₱5,041

-37.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.11 ₱2,289

$45.98 ₱2,836

-19.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$131 ₱8,051

$489 ₱30.1K

-73.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$103 ₱6,327

$270 ₱16.6K

-61.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 ₱16.4K

$1,687 ₱104.1K

-84.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₱10.8K

$630 ₱38.8K

-72.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$386 ₱23.8K

$4,325 ₱266.8K

-91.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$307 ₱18.9K

$2,640 ₱162.8K

-88.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$216 ₱13.3K

$452 ₱27.9K

-52.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

7.52

-17.95%

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

Last update for Tarlac City: April 26, 2026

Last update for Manila: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $131 in Tarlac City 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 110% 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 $15.00 in Tarlac City versus $27.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $243 – making Tarlac 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $632 in Tarlac City, $963 in Manila – roughly 52% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $948 per month in Tarlac City 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 Tarlac 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 $632 in Tarlac City and $963 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 52% less in Tarlac City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tarlac City, where all-in costs run around $632, than in Manila at $963. In Tarlac 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 $632 in Tarlac City 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 Tarlac 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.