Popular cities
El Nido vs Manila cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ต๐ญ El Nido
๐ต๐ญ Manila
At a glance
- Where Manila is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (62%โ), Transit (50%โ)
- Where El Nido is clearly cheaper: Local meal (46%โ), Restaurant dinner (44%โ), Studio rent (month) (40%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Both cities are about equally easy to travel. Biggest gap: getting around โ El Nido 4 vs Manila 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | El Nido | Manila | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โฑ 150$2.63 | โฑ 280$4.91 | El Nido โ46% |
| Street food1 item | โฑ 50$0.88 | โฑ 50$0.88 | similar |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โฑ 450$7.89 | โฑ 800$14 | El Nido โ44% |
| Coffeeone cup | โฑ 150$2.63 | โฑ 150$2.63 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | โฑ 90$1.58 | โฑ 120$2.11 | El Nido โ25% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โฑ 250$4.39 | โฑ 300$5.26 | El Nido โ17% |
| Bottled water | โฑ 25$0.44 | โฑ 25$0.44 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โฑ 45$0.79 | โฑ 63$1.11 | El Nido โ29% |
| Taxi5 km in town | โฑ 150$2.63 | โฑ 220$3.86 | El Nido โ32% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โฑ 60$1.05 | โฑ 60$1.05 | similar |
| Transitone ride | โฑ 30$0.53 | โฑ 15$0.26 | Manila โ50% |
| Scooter rentalper day | โฑ 500$8.77 | โฑ 500$8.77 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | โฑ 4,000$70.2 | โฑ 3,500$61.4 | Manila โ13% |
| Studio rent (month) | โฑ 15,000$263 | โฑ 25,000$439 | El Nido โ40% |
| Laundry | โฑ 70$1.23 | โฑ 60$1.05 | Manila โ14% |
| SIM card1 week data | โฑ 300$5.26 | โฑ 350$6.14 | El Nido โ14% |
| Haircutcut | โฑ 150$2.63 | โฑ 180$3.16 | El Nido โ17% |
| Massage1 hour | โฑ 500$8.77 | โฑ 500$8.77 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | โฑ 1,400$24.6 | โฑ 1,500$26.3 | El Nido โ7% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โฑ 400$7.02 | โฑ 150$2.63 | Manila โ62% |
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, El Nido or Manila?
El Nido is 21% cheaper than Manila. Daily budget $99.4 vs $107; a month $1,155 vs $1,683.
Which is easier to travel, El Nido or Manila?
About the same: El Nido 2.8/5, Manila 2.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between El Nido and Manila?
With a short-term studio and living costs, El Nido is about $1,155 and Manila about $1,683 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.