Cost of Living in Mambajao - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $456 (excluding rent), and $623 including rent.
Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,094 (excluding rent), and $1,374 including rent.
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๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.48 โ‚ฑ82.5
$1.22 โ‚ฑ67.8
$1.74 โ‚ฑ96.7
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.2 โ‚ฑ1,459
$17.47 โ‚ฑ973
$44.44 โ‚ฑ2,474
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.55 โ‚ฑ254
$3.98 โ‚ฑ222
$5.12 โ‚ฑ285
Cappuccino
$3.05 โ‚ฑ170
$1.21 โ‚ฑ67.3
$5.86 โ‚ฑ326
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.4 โ‚ฑ77.8
$0.54 โ‚ฑ30.11
$2.56 โ‚ฑ143
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 โ‚ฑ47.32
$0.37 โ‚ฑ20.45
$1.11 โ‚ฑ61.9
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.13 โ‚ฑ63.1
$1.08 โ‚ฑ60.3
$3.58 โ‚ฑ200
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 โ‚ฑ149
$1.34 โ‚ฑ74.7
$5.06 โ‚ฑ282
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 โ‚ฑ71.7
$0.88 โ‚ฑ49.09
$1.93 โ‚ฑ108
White Bread (500g)
$0.97 โ‚ฑ53.7
$0.63 โ‚ฑ35.07
$1.53 โ‚ฑ85.4
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.9 โ‚ฑ49.84
$0.74 โ‚ฑ41.15
$1.1 โ‚ฑ61.4
Eggs
$1.35 โ‚ฑ75.1
$1.25 โ‚ฑ69.7
$1.46 โ‚ฑ81.1
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.51 โ‚ฑ418
$3.33 โ‚ฑ185
$13.29 โ‚ฑ740
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.23 โ‚ฑ236
$3.24 โ‚ฑ180
$5.22 โ‚ฑ290
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.37 โ‚ฑ355
$5.27 โ‚ฑ293
$7.02 โ‚ฑ391
Apples (1kg)
$2.96 โ‚ฑ165
$1.79 โ‚ฑ99.9
$4.49 โ‚ฑ250
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 โ‚ฑ72.9
$0.88 โ‚ฑ48.79
$1.74 โ‚ฑ97
Oranges (1kg)
$2.73 โ‚ฑ152
$1.46 โ‚ฑ81.3
$5.38 โ‚ฑ300
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 โ‚ฑ89.6
$0.81 โ‚ฑ45.36
$2.71 โ‚ฑ151
Potato (1kg)
$2.38 โ‚ฑ132
$1.22 โ‚ฑ67.9
$4.36 โ‚ฑ242
Onion (1kg)
$2.62 โ‚ฑ146
$1.81 โ‚ฑ101
$4.52 โ‚ฑ252
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 โ‚ฑ56.5
$0.54 โ‚ฑ30.07
$1.65 โ‚ฑ91.8
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 โ‚ฑ42.62
$0.46 โ‚ฑ25.34
$1.38 โ‚ฑ76.6
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77 โ‚ฑ154
$2.33 โ‚ฑ130
$3.46 โ‚ฑ193
Wine (Bottle)
$4.32 โ‚ฑ240
$4.32 โ‚ฑ240
$4.32 โ‚ฑ240
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 โ‚ฑ59.5
$0.86 โ‚ฑ48.14
$1.3 โ‚ฑ72.5
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 โ‚ฑ69.2
$1.21 โ‚ฑ67.5
$1.3 โ‚ฑ72.4
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.2 โ‚ฑ11.12
$0.2 โ‚ฑ11.12
$0.2 โ‚ฑ11.12
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.79 โ‚ฑ43.87
$0.7 โ‚ฑ38.94
$0.88 โ‚ฑ48.81
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 โ‚ฑ14.22
$0.16 โ‚ฑ8.65
$0.5 โ‚ฑ27.82
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.85 โ‚ฑ103
$1.85 โ‚ฑ103
$3.09 โ‚ฑ172
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 โ‚ฑ75.2
$1.21 โ‚ฑ67.6
$1.49 โ‚ฑ82.9
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K โ‚ฑ1.5M
$24.7K โ‚ฑ1.4M
$28.2K โ‚ฑ1.6M
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K โ‚ฑ1.3M
$21.5K โ‚ฑ1.2M
$23.4K โ‚ฑ1.3M
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.4 โ‚ฑ4,642
$70.2 โ‚ฑ3,909
$110 โ‚ฑ6,108
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.34 โ‚ฑ1,745
$8.47 โ‚ฑ472
$42.35 โ‚ฑ2,358
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.36 โ‚ฑ1,245
$17.89 โ‚ฑ996
$26.84 โ‚ฑ1,494
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.99 โ‚ฑ1,837
$13.79 โ‚ฑ768
$38.78 โ‚ฑ2,159
Cinema Ticket
$6.6 โ‚ฑ368
$4.92 โ‚ฑ274
$9.85 โ‚ฑ548
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$141 โ‚ฑ7,863
$61.9 โ‚ฑ3,446
$330 โ‚ฑ18.4K
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,440 โ‚ฑ247.2K
$2,190 โ‚ฑ121.9K
$9,124 โ‚ฑ508K
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2 โ‚ฑ2,848
$9.9 โ‚ฑ551
$79.2 โ‚ฑ4,410
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.27 โ‚ฑ1,574
$9.42 โ‚ฑ524
$56.5 โ‚ฑ3,148
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.7 โ‚ฑ4,657
$49.2 โ‚ฑ2,739
$118 โ‚ฑ6,575
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.3 โ‚ฑ3,023
$32.57 โ‚ฑ1,814
$109 โ‚ฑ6,045
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$135 โ‚ฑ7,533
$90.2 โ‚ฑ5,022
$180 โ‚ฑ10K
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$85.3 โ‚ฑ4,748
$35.29 โ‚ฑ1,965
$132 โ‚ฑ7,367
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$290 โ‚ฑ16.2K
$261 โ‚ฑ14.5K
$348 โ‚ฑ19.4K
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$195 โ‚ฑ10.9K
$180 โ‚ฑ10K
$225 โ‚ฑ12.5K
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$168 โ‚ฑ9,348
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
4.5
8.5
Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.
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Cost of Living in Mambajao - Frequently Asked Questions
How does affordability in Mambajao compare for travelers, expats, and digital nomads?
In Mambajao, the pace is relaxed and costs cluster around essentials โ€“ local produce, simple meals, and affordable transport. Compared with big-city centers, youโ€™ll notice more value in long-stay housing and community services. Cost of Living in Mambajao, Philippines reflects a mix of market prices and seasonal scans at the pier and public markets, rather than luxury options. If youโ€™re a traveler on a budget, an expat building a modest rental, or a digital nomad seeking a quieter base, youโ€™ll likely find everyday expenses predictable and manageable. Tip: Focus on weekly markets, haggle politely, and choose local eateries for steady savings.
What does daily life look like in Mambajao, in terms of housing, food, transport, and errands?
Youโ€™ll find a range of modest housing options โ€“ from simple studios near the town center to hillside cottages with sea views. Start with local listings or word-of-mouth recommendations; leases tend to be flexible, with month-to-month arrangements common. Grocery runs center on markets offering fresh produce, seafood, and staples; cafes and small eateries cover most quick meals. For transport, tuk-tuks and motorbikes (habal-habal) handle most trips; walking remains feasible in compact parts of town. If you work remotely, seek out cafรฉs and a coworking space with dependable Wiโ€‘Fi. Mambajao, Philippines living cost tends to favor local options. Tip: establish a weekly routine for errands to minimize backtracking.
How can you frame quality of life and budgeting to feel at home in Mambajao, considering seasonality and neighborhood fit?
Quality of life here blends natural beauty with a tight-knit community and a slower tempo. To budget effectively, build a simple framework: separate essentials (housing, food, transport) from discretionary spends, and lean on local markets for fresh ingredients. Seasonal variations affect crowds and prices, so visit during shoulder months to compare options. For neighborhood fit, choose an area based on daily routines โ€“ proximity to the market, beach access, or a coworking hub can shape your days. Embrace flexible plans, mix in free outdoor activities, and reserve a cushion for maintenance or unexpected travel. Tip: keep a small reserve for transport to regional centers during weather shifts.
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