Cost of Living Comparison Between Las Pinas and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Las Pinas and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $726 per month in Las Pinas vs $927 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,116 per month in Las Pinas vs $1,501 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,506 per month in Las Pinas vs $2,074 in Manila, rent included.

Las Pinas is about 22% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Las Pinas and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Las Pinas 47% lower, Manila 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.10 ₱257

$5.16 ₱324

-20.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.62 ₱1,481

$25.86 ₱1,621

-8.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.75 ₱172

$3.93 ₱246

-30.03%

Cappuccino

$1.84 ₱115

$2.52 ₱158

-26.98%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 ₱68.7

$1.36 ₱85.1

-19.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₱27.58

$0.83 ₱52.1

-46.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 ₱72.1

$1.13 ₱70.8

1.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 ₱153

$2.74 ₱172

-10.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ₱107

$1.90 ₱119

-10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 ₱70.7

$1.43 ₱89.6

-20.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₱63.7

$0.98 ₱61.4

4.08%

Eggs

$2.09 ₱131

$2.23 ₱140

-6.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.10 ₱320

$7.99 ₱501

-36.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.34 ₱209

$4.69 ₱294

-28.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.14 ₱447

$6.81 ₱427

4.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 ₱142

$3.32 ₱208

-31.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 ₱102

$1.83 ₱114

-10.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱151

$2.98 ₱187

-19.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 ₱67.3

$1.86 ₱116

-42.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.77 ₱111

$2.26 ₱142

-21.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 ₱112

$2.70 ₱169

-33.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱42.04

$2.10 ₱131

-68.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱30.92

$0.56 ₱34.83

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱185

$3.20 ₱201

-7.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.69 ₱607

$9.61 ₱602

0.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₱58.1

$1.32 ₱83.0

-29.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱125

$2.10 ₱132

-4.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.80

$0.46 ₱29.04

-52.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.12 ₱697

$12.68 ₱795

-12.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.74

$0.83 ₱52.3

-8.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.42

$0.23 ₱14.47

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$1.86 ₱117

0.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ₱74.8

$1.24 ₱77.6

-4.03%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.3K ₱1.3M

1.70%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.3K ₱1.2M

-0.21%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$125 ₱7,810

$122 ₱7,647

2.12%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.70 ₱922

$14.83 ₱930

-0.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.88 ₱1,497

$23.95 ₱1,502

-0.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.64 ₱1,983

$42.46 ₱2,662

-25.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.70 ₱294

$5.79 ₱363

-18.83%

Cinema Ticket

$5.36 ₱336

$6.88 ₱431

-22.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$132 ₱8,279

$621 ₱38.9K

-78.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,045 ₱567.0K

$8,865 ₱555.8K

2.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.44 ₱2,034

$57.5 ₱3,604

-43.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.68 ₱1,234

$28.04 ₱1,758

-29.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 ₱4,553

$77.6 ₱4,866

-6.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.4 ₱3,536

$57.9 ₱3,628

-2.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 ₱16.9K

$534 ₱33.5K

-49.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₱10.9K

$287 ₱18.0K

-39.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 ₱31.4K

$1,928 ₱120.9K

-74.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 ₱22.4K

$664 ₱41.6K

-46.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,611 ₱163.7K

$4,356 ₱273.1K

-40.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,029 ₱64.5K

$2,555 ₱160.2K

-59.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$608 ₱38.1K

$473 ₱29.7K

28.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

7.43

-9.15%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Las Pinas: September 6, 2026

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $269 in Las Pinas versus $534 in Manila. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 28% higher in Las Pinas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Las Pinas versus $26.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $176 vs $220 – making Las Pinas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Las Pinas vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $726 in Las Pinas, $927 in Manila – roughly 28% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,089 per month in Las Pinas and $1,391 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Las Pinas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Las Pinas and $26.00 in Manila. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $726 in Las Pinas and $927 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Las Pinas, where all-in costs run around $726, than in Manila at $927. In Las Pinas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $726 in Las Pinas to $927 in Manila. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Las Pinas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.