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 $841 per month in Las Pinas vs $963 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,305 per month in Las Pinas vs $1,522 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,768 per month in Las Pinas vs $2,081 in Manila, rent included.

Las Pinas is about 13% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Las Pinas and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Las Pinas 37% lower, Manila 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.81 ₱294

$5.39 ₱330

-10.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.79 ₱1,456

$26.79 ₱1,639

-11.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.08 ₱189

$4.54 ₱278

-32.16%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱162

$2.62 ₱160

1.15%

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

$1.00 ₱61.3

$0.98 ₱60.2

2.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.45

$0.54 ₱32.93

-1.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.31 ₱80.1

$1.48 ₱90.8

-11.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 ₱158

$2.73 ₱167

-5.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱132

$1.96 ₱120

9.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 ₱80.5

$1.40 ₱85.4

-5.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.5

$1.03 ₱63.2

3.88%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱127

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.85 ₱419

$9.11 ₱557

-24.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.41 ₱270

$5.20 ₱318

-15.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.01 ₱429

$8.70 ₱533

-19.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱214

$3.40 ₱208

2.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₱100

$1.81 ₱111

-9.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.88 ₱176

$3.66 ₱224

-21.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ₱99.9

$2.52 ₱154

-35.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 ₱173

$2.81 ₱172

0.36%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 ₱193

$3.09 ₱189

1.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 ₱99.4

$1.99 ₱122

-18.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₱64.0

$0.69 ₱41.97

52.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ₱208

$3.44 ₱210

-1.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱582

$9.98 ₱611

-4.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₱88.2

$1.49 ₱91.4

-3.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱124

$2.19 ₱134

-7.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₱14.70

$0.48 ₱29.54

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱724

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱47.59

$0.93 ₱56.7

-16.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.45

$0.27 ₱16.58

-18.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.07 ₱127

$2.16 ₱132

-4.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.1

$1.12 ₱68.2

-0.89%

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

$25.3K ₱1.5M

$26.6K ₱1.6M

-4.74%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$23.0K ₱1.4M

-10.18%

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

$136 ₱8,316

$135 ₱8,238

0.94%

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

$24.63 ₱1,507

$22.00 ₱1,346

11.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.52 ₱1,867

$27.98 ₱1,712

9.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 ₱3,193

$42.05 ₱2,573

24.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱428

Cinema Ticket

$6.57 ₱402

$6.73 ₱411

-2.38%

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

$105 ₱6,433

$365 ₱22.3K

-71.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,750 ₱168.2K

$11.6K ₱707.4K

-76.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.50 ₱1,988

$46.97 ₱2,874

-30.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.21 ₱1,787

$35.01 ₱2,142

-16.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.5 ₱5,110

$81.7 ₱5,000

2.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.28 ₱2,893

$45.98 ₱2,813

2.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$209 ₱12.8K

$489 ₱29.9K

-57.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$170 ₱10.4K

$270 ₱16.5K

-36.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱40.7K

$1,687 ₱103.2K

-60.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$396 ₱24.2K

$630 ₱38.5K

-37.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$499 ₱30.5K

$4,325 ₱264.6K

-88.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$327 ₱20.0K

$2,640 ₱161.5K

-87.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$553 ₱33.8K

$452 ₱27.7K

22.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

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

Last update for Las Pinas: April 25, 2026

Last update for Manila: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $209 in Las Pinas versus $489 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 22% 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 $27.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $243 – 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: $841 in Las Pinas, $963 in Manila – roughly 14% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,261 per month in Las Pinas and $1,444 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $841 in Las Pinas and $963 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $105 per month in Las Pinas and $365 in Manila. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Las Pinas, where all-in costs run around $841, than in Manila at $963. 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 $841 in Las Pinas to $963 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.