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Manila vs Tokyo cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇵🇭 Manila
🇯🇵 TokyoManila is 120% cheaper than Tokyo
Living on $1,616 a month in Manila feels like about $3,667 in Tokyo — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$94.2 vs $201
Per month
$1,616 vs $3,667
Local meal
₱ 180 vs ¥ 1,000
$3.16 vs $6.76
Taxi 5 km
₱ 130 vs ¥ 2,500
$2.28 vs $16.9
At a glance
FoodManila 54% cheaper
Cafés & drinksManila 55% cheaper
TransportManila 85% cheaper
StayManila 46% cheaper
FunManila 72% cheaper
- Where Manila is clearly cheaper: Taxi (86%↓), Massage (85%↓), Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (85%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Manila | Tokyo | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₱ 180$3.16 | ¥ 1,000$6.76 | Manila −53% |
| Street food1 item | ₱ 81$1.42 | ¥ 450$3.04 | Manila −53% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₱ 600$10.5 | ¥ 3,500$23.6 | Manila −55% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₱ 150$2.63 | ¥ 550$3.72 | Manila −29% |
| Beerone bottle | ₱ 90$1.58 | ¥ 600$4.05 | Manila −61% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₱ 230$4.04 | ¥ 1,600$10.8 | Manila −63% |
| Bottled water | ₱ 25$0.44 | ¥ 120$0.81 | Manila −46% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₱ 63$1.11 | ¥ 300$2.03 | Manila −45% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₱ 130$2.28 | ¥ 2,500$16.9 | Manila −86% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₱ 86$1.51 | ¥ 1,500$10.1 | Manila −85% |
| Transitone ride | ₱ 15$0.26 | ¥ 210$1.42 | Manila −81% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₱ 460$8.07 | ¥ 4,400$29.7 | Manila −73% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₱ 3,500$61.4 | ¥ 15,000$101 | Manila −39% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₱ 28,000$491 | ¥ 150,000$1,014 | Manila −52% |
| Laundry | ₱ 86$1.51 | ¥ 740$5 | Manila −70% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₱ 340$5.96 | ¥ 3,000$20.3 | Manila −71% |
| Haircutcut | ₱ 180$3.16 | ¥ 3,100$20.9 | Manila −85% |
| Massage1 hour | ₱ 510$8.95 | ¥ 8,900$60.1 | Manila −85% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₱ 2,000$35.1 | ¥ 10,000$67.6 | Manila −48% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₱ 340$5.96 | ¥ 1,800$12.2 | Manila −51% |
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 Tokyo?
Manila is 120% cheaper than Tokyo. Daily budget $94.2 vs $201; a month $1,616 vs $3,667.
How do monthly costs compare between Manila and Tokyo?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Manila is about $1,616 and Tokyo about $3,667 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.