Manila vs Belgrade Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Manila vs Belgrade: everyday costs favor Manila (~75% CPI gap), housing index favors Manila, wage stretch favors Belgrade. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Manila
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Utilities (463% gap, Manila ahead); Transport (399% gap, Manila ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $482 lower in Manila than in Belgrade (~190% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $482 (favoring Manila).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Manila | CPI 19.1 vs 33.4 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Manila | Rent index 6.2 vs 18.9 (lower is better) |
| Food | Manila | Groceries index 26.9 vs 36.7 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Manila | One-way ticket 13.57 vs 67.65 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Manila | Utilities (85m²) 725.4 vs 4082.4 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Manila | Internet 1420.97 vs 3916.08 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Manila | Restaurant index 13.2 vs 30 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Belgrade | Avg net salary 314712 vs 66736.8 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Belgrade | PP index 47 vs 18.4 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Utilities: Manila leads with a 463% gap.
Utilities (85m²) 725.4 vs 4082.4 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Manila — Lower housing / rent index (205% gap).
- Families: Manila — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Manila; purchasing power favors Belgrade.
- Remote Workers: Manila — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Manila (~75% gap).
- Budget Living: Manila — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Manila is the overall cost winner on CPI (~75% lower everyday-cost index than Belgrade).
- Housing: Manila leads on rent index (205% gap).
- Food / groceries: Manila is lower (36% gap).
- Purchasing power: Belgrade scores higher (155% gap).
- Largest category gap: Utilities (463%), favoring Manila.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$482 cheaper in Manila.
Analysis
Manila versus Belgrade is not a single number. With a 75% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Manila, while housing follows Manila's rent index. Purchasing power (18.4 vs 47) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-21
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.