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Boracay vs Manila cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇵🇠Boracay
🇵🇠ManilaBoracay and Manila cost about the same
Living on $1,759 a month in Boracay feels like about $1,616 in Manila — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$94.4 vs $94.2
Per month
$1,759 vs $1,616
Local meal
₱ 200 vs ₱ 180
$3.51 vs $3.16
Taxi 5 km
₱ 110 vs ₱ 130
$1.93 vs $2.28
At a glance
FoodManila 11% cheaper
Cafés & drinksManila 9% cheaper
Transportsimilar
StayBoracay 5% cheaper
FunManila 9% cheaper
- Where Boracay is clearly cheaper: Taxi (15%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Boracay | Manila | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₱ 200$3.51 | ₱ 180$3.16 | Manila −10% |
| Street food1 item | ₱ 90$1.58 | ₱ 81$1.42 | Manila −10% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₱ 680$11.9 | ₱ 600$10.5 | Manila −12% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₱ 160$2.81 | ₱ 150$2.63 | Manila −6% |
| Beerone bottle | ₱ 100$1.75 | ₱ 90$1.58 | Manila −10% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₱ 260$4.56 | ₱ 230$4.04 | Manila −12% |
| Bottled water | ₱ 24$0.42 | ₱ 25$0.44 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₱ 60$1.05 | ₱ 63$1.11 | Boracay −5% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₱ 110$1.93 | ₱ 130$2.28 | Boracay −15% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₱ 98$1.72 | ₱ 86$1.51 | Manila −12% |
| Transitone ride | ₱ 17$0.3 | ₱ 15$0.26 | Manila −12% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₱ 520$9.12 | ₱ 460$8.07 | Manila −12% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₱ 3,400$59.6 | ₱ 3,500$61.4 | similar |
| Studio rent (month) | ₱ 26,000$456 | ₱ 28,000$491 | Boracay −7% |
| Laundry | ₱ 86$1.51 | ₱ 86$1.51 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | ₱ 340$5.96 | ₱ 340$5.96 | similar |
| Haircutcut | ₱ 210$3.68 | ₱ 180$3.16 | Manila −14% |
| Massage1 hour | ₱ 590$10.4 | ₱ 510$8.95 | Manila −14% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₱ 2,300$40.4 | ₱ 2,000$35.1 | Manila −13% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₱ 340$5.96 | ₱ 340$5.96 | similar |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Boracay or Manila?
Boracay and Manila cost about the same. Daily budget $94.4 vs $94.2; a month $1,759 vs $1,616.
How do monthly costs compare between Boracay and Manila?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Boracay is about $1,759 and Manila about $1,616 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.