Manila, Philippines
In Manila, $10 covers a cinema ticket at an SM or Ayala mall, or a Jollibee-style fast-food combo plus a full carinderia meal of adobo or sinigang with rice, together with change to spare.
Index score 271 (rank 5 of 20) — the full basket totals $18.44, so $10 covers about 54.2% of it.
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The basket
| Item | Manila | NYC | vs NYC |
|---|---|---|---|
| White bread (500g) | $1.40 | $4.61 | -70% |
| Milk (1L) | $1.96 | $1.44 | +36% |
| Eggs (12) | $2.25 | $5.90 | -62% |
| Bananas (1kg) | $1.84 | $2.10 | -12% |
| Bottled water (1.5L) | $0.58 | $2.50 | -77% |
| Domestic beer (0.5L, store) | $1.33 | $3.21 | -59% |
| Cappuccino (cafe) | $2.50 | $6.09 | -59% |
| White rice (1kg) | $1.03 | $6.64 | -84% |
| Chicken breast (1kg) | $5.06 | $14.41 | -65% |
| Public transit, one-way ticket | $0.49 | $3.00 | -84% |
| Total | $18.44 | $49.90 |
What $10 actually buys here
- A cinema ticket at an SM or Ayala mall~$7.30
Standard mall multiplex pricing.
- A Jollibee-style fast-food combo meal~$4.06
A beloved Filipino fast-food staple.
- A full carinderia meal~$5.68
Adobo or sinigang with rice at a local eatery.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a basic grocery basket cost in Manila?
$18.44 for a basic grocery basket in Manila — less than half of New York City's $49.90.
What can $10 buy in Manila?
A Jollibee-style fast-food combo meal for $4.06 and a full carinderia meal of adobo or sinigang with rice for $5.68 — together for under $10.
Is Manila cheaper than New York for everyday expenses?
Yes — Manila's index score of 271 means a dollar goes roughly 2.7 times as far as in New York.
How much is a cinema ticket in Manila?
About $7.30 at an SM or Ayala mall multiplex.
What's the cheapest item in Manila's basket?
Public transit at $0.49 a ride, while chicken breast is the priciest item at $5.06 per kilo.
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Keep exploring
In Mumbai, $10 covers a round-trip ferry to Elephanta Island with cave-temple entry, a full street-food crawl of vada pav and pav bhaji, or a Bollywood movie with popcorn.
In New York City, $10 covers a halal-cart chicken-and-rice platter, three subway or bus rides, or a pay-what-you-wish museum ticket — the baseline this whole index is measured against.
In Nairobi, $10 stretches across a quarter-kilo of nyama choma grilled meat, a boda boda motorbike-taxi ride, and a weekday matinee cinema ticket — with money left over for all three.
Prices are researched estimates (July 2026), not live data — treat them as illustrative, not exact. See the methodology page for details.