Philippines
The Philippines' bustling, densely packed capital with a complex colonial history, vibrant nightlife, and a warm, resilient local culture.
#211 of 250
76% below average
Monthly cost, one adult
$ 340
Based on NYC = 100 index
Total does not include Housing — no scraped prices there (N/A)
Manila is the 211. most expensive of the 250 cities we track — a month here comes to $ 340 for one adult.
Cheaper here than almost anywhere else is healthcare, 74% below the median: doctor visit (15 min) $ 8, cold medicine (6 days) $ 2. You also get off lightly on basic grocery basket, restaurants.
Percentages compare this city against the median of all tracked cities, category by category.
22 prices on this page come from live scrapers (8 sources, observed September 28, 2026 to October 13, 2026). They are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit CostCompass and link this page.
CostCompass (2026). Cost of living in Manila, Philippines. Data as of 2026-10-14. https://costcompass.net/living/cities/manila. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
| Item | Price (USD) | Observations | Last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 3.19 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Pork (1kg) | 5.04 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Beef (1kg) | 7.01 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Fish Fillet (1kg) | 4.63 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Eggs (12) | 1.59 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Rice (1kg) | 0.74 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 2.23 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 1.80 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Carrots (1kg) | 1.92 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Onions (1kg) | 1.80 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Garlic (1kg) | 5.09 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Banana (1kg) | 1.60 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Domestic Beer (0.5L) | 2.75 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Pub & Bar Drinks Menus |
| Imported Beer (0.33L) | 3.78 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Pub & Bar Drinks Menus |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 1.25 / liter | 1 | 2026-10-13 | National fuel price sources |
| Basic Utilities (85m2 Apt) | 68.92 / month | 1 | 2026-09-28 | Official Electricity Tariffs |
| Fitness Club (Monthly) | 39.79 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Gym Chains |
| Cold Medicine (6 days) | 1.59 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Online Pharmacies (API) |
| Jeans (Levis or Similar) | 31.67 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Uniqlo |
| Summer Dress (Chain Store) | 31.67 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Uniqlo |
| Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas) | 74.73 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Local Shoe Stores (world) |
| Business Shoes (Leather) | 44.89 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Local Shoe Stores (world) |
Cities where the money splits the same way
Philippines
Similar share of Restaurants & Basic Grocery Basket · compared on 7 of 8 categories
Philippines
Similar share of Restaurants & Entertainment · compared on 7 of 8 categories
Dominican Republic
Similar share of Restaurants & Transportation · compared on 6 of 8 categories
El Salvador
Similar share of Restaurants & Transportation · compared on 5 of 8 categories
Monthly average costs by category
N/A
$ 55
per month
$ 111
per month
$ 41
per month
$ 69
per month
$ 40
per month
$ 5
per month
$ 21
per month