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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 ยท Updated October 2026
๐ต๐ญ Manila
๐ฏ๐ต Tokyo
At a glance
- Where Manila is clearly cheaper: Haircut (88%โ), Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (84%โ), Laundry (84%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Tokyo is easier to travel (1.6 vs 2.6). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Manila 3 vs Tokyo 1. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Manila | Tokyo | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โฑ 280$4.91 | ยฅ 1,100$7.43 | Manila โ34% |
| Street food1 item | โฑ 50$0.88 | ยฅ 500$3.38 | Manila โ74% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โฑ 800$14 | ยฅ 4,000$27 | Manila โ48% |
| Coffeeone cup | โฑ 150$2.63 | ยฅ 600$4.05 | Manila โ35% |
| Beerone bottle | โฑ 120$2.11 | ยฅ 650$4.39 | Manila โ52% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โฑ 300$5.26 | ยฅ 1,500$10.1 | Manila โ48% |
| Bottled water | โฑ 25$0.44 | ยฅ 130$0.88 | Manila โ50% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โฑ 63$1.11 | ยฅ 180$1.22 | Manila โ9% |
| Taxi5 km in town | โฑ 220$3.86 | ยฅ 2,400$16.2 | Manila โ76% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โฑ 60$1.05 | ยฅ 1,000$6.76 | Manila โ84% |
| Transitone ride | โฑ 15$0.26 | ยฅ 210$1.42 | Manila โ81% |
| Scooter rentalper day | โฑ 500$8.77 | ยฅ 2,000$13.5 | Manila โ35% |
| Hotel night3-star | โฑ 3,500$61.4 | ยฅ 16,000$108 | Manila โ43% |
| Studio rent (month) | โฑ 25,000$439 | ยฅ 150,000$1,014 | Manila โ57% |
| Laundry | โฑ 60$1.05 | ยฅ 1,000$6.76 | Manila โ84% |
| SIM card1 week data | โฑ 350$6.14 | ยฅ 2,500$16.9 | Manila โ64% |
| Haircutcut | โฑ 180$3.16 | ยฅ 4,000$27 | Manila โ88% |
| Massage1 hour | โฑ 500$8.77 | ยฅ 5,500$37.2 | Manila โ76% |
| Half-day tourper person | โฑ 1,500$26.3 | ยฅ 9,000$60.8 | Manila โ57% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โฑ 150$2.63 | ยฅ 2,000$13.5 | Manila โ81% |
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 52% cheaper than Tokyo. Daily budget $107 vs $212; a month $1,683 vs $3,723.
Which is easier to travel, Manila or Tokyo?
Tokyo is easier: Tokyo 1.6/5 vs Manila 2.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Manila and Tokyo?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Manila is about $1,683 and Tokyo about $3,723 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.