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Manila vs Palawan cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇵🇠Manila
🇵🇠PalawanPalawan is 16% cheaper than Manila
Living on $1,616 a month in Manila feels like about $1,411 in Palawan — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$94.2 vs $75.7
Per month
$1,616 vs $1,411
Local meal
₱ 180 vs ₱ 170
$3.16 vs $2.98
Taxi 5 km
₱ 130 vs ₱ 110
$2.28 vs $1.93
At a glance
FoodPalawan 5% cheaper
Cafés & drinkssimilar
Transportsimilar
StayPalawan 27% cheaper
FunManila 9% cheaper
- Where Palawan is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (29%↓), Hotel night (26%↓), Bottled water (16%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Manila | Palawan | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₱ 180$3.16 | ₱ 170$2.98 | Palawan −6% |
| Street food1 item | ₱ 81$1.42 | ₱ 77$1.35 | similar |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₱ 600$10.5 | ₱ 570$10 | Palawan −5% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₱ 150$2.63 | ₱ 140$2.46 | Palawan −7% |
| Beerone bottle | ₱ 90$1.58 | ₱ 91$1.6 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₱ 230$4.04 | ₱ 240$4.21 | similar |
| Bottled water | ₱ 25$0.44 | ₱ 21$0.37 | Palawan −16% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₱ 63$1.11 | ₱ 53$0.93 | Palawan −16% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₱ 130$2.28 | ₱ 110$1.93 | Palawan −15% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₱ 86$1.51 | ₱ 98$1.72 | Manila −12% |
| Transitone ride | ₱ 15$0.26 | ₱ 17$0.3 | Manila −12% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₱ 460$8.07 | ₱ 520$9.12 | Manila −12% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₱ 3,500$61.4 | ₱ 2,600$45.6 | Palawan −26% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₱ 28,000$491 | ₱ 20,000$351 | Palawan −29% |
| Laundry | ₱ 86$1.51 | ₱ 86$1.51 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | ₱ 340$5.96 | ₱ 340$5.96 | similar |
| Haircutcut | ₱ 180$3.16 | ₱ 210$3.68 | Manila −14% |
| Massage1 hour | ₱ 510$8.95 | ₱ 590$10.4 | Manila −14% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₱ 2,000$35.1 | ₱ 2,300$40.4 | 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, Manila or Palawan?
Palawan is 16% cheaper than Manila. Daily budget $94.2 vs $75.7; a month $1,616 vs $1,411.
How do monthly costs compare between Manila and Palawan?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Manila is about $1,616 and Palawan about $1,411 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.