🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $905 in Mandaue versus $1,753 in Terrassa.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,369 in Mandaue versus $2,558 in Terrassa.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,833 in Mandaue versus $3,363 in Terrassa.
🌍Living in Mandaue costs roughly 48% less than in Terrassa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mandaue is 32% below, Terrassa is 31% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandaue
Terrassa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40₱271
$16.72€14.60
-73.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.85₱1,468
$69.2€60.4
-65.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.37₱269
$12.61€11.02
-65.34%
Cappuccino
$2.55₱157
$2.55€2.22
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78₱48.26
$2.16€1.89
-63.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43₱26.31
$1.95€1.70
-77.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.52₱93.8
$3.40€2.97
-55.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15₱132
$4.53€3.95
-52.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandaue
Terrassa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.12₱130
$1.23€1.07
72.36%
White Bread(500g)
$0.80₱49.37
$1.66€1.45
-51.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.98₱60.5
$1.88€1.64
-47.87%
Eggs
$2.26₱139
$3.50€3.06
-35.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.94₱797
$10.99€9.61
17.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.18₱319
$9.11€7.96
-43.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.77₱478
$18.78€16.41
-58.63%
Apples(1kg)
$3.57₱220
$2.35€2.05
51.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53₱94.3
$2.16€1.89
-29.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.39₱209
$2.05€1.79
65.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26₱139
$2.94€2.57
-23.13%
Potato(1kg)
$2.55₱157
$1.48€1.29
72.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.47₱152
$1.77€1.54
39.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94₱57.7
$1.03€0.90
-8.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79₱48.55
$0.91€0.80
-13.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.62₱161
$6.05€5.28
-56.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.24₱384
$6.85€5.98
-8.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17₱71.8
$1.38€1.20
-15.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36₱145
$2.15€1.88
9.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandaue
Terrassa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₱15.98
$1.65€1.44
-84.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$34.12€29.81
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.87₱53.4
$4.11€3.59
-78.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₱15.48
$2.06€1.80
-87.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.63₱162
$28.97€25.31
-90.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₱67.2
$1.81€1.59
-39.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K₱1.9M
$37.6K€32.9K
-20.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K₱1.7M
$32.7K€28.5K
-16.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandaue
Terrassa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.6₱5,944
$183€160
-47.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.07₱1,605
$23.38€20.43
11.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.13₱1,855
$37.58€32.83
-19.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandaue
Terrassa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.75₱3,001
$40.59€35.46
20.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.36₱268
$14.82€12.94
-70.58%
Cinema Ticket
$6.11₱376
$11.13€9.73
-45.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandaue
Terrassa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$228₱14.1K
$628€549
-63.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,860₱237.6K
$9,920€8,667
-61.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandaue
Terrassa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.98₱2,769
$87.7€76.6
-48.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.33₱1,437
$32.86€28.71
-29.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.8₱4,667
$89.3€78.0
-15.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.5₱3,416
$118€103
-52.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandaue
Terrassa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$263₱16.2K
$845€738
-68.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$287₱17.7K
$692€605
-58.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837₱51.6K
$1,299€1,135
-35.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$442₱27.2K
$993€868
-55.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,718₱167.3K
$2,792€2,439
-2.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$837₱51.5K
$2,166€1,893
-61.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandaue
Terrassa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$246₱15.1K
$2,323€2,029
-89.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
3.5
128.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mandaue: July 14, 2026
Last update for Terrassa: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in Mandaue and $845 in Terrassa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Terrassa pays 845% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $24.00 in Mandaue vs $69.0 in Terrassa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $281 per month, with Mandaue cheaper across the board.
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
Mandaue vs Terrassa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mandaue or Terrassa?
Mandaue wins on cost – living expenses run 94% lower than in Terrassa. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mandaue the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mandaue or in Terrassa?
On paper, salaries run 845% lower in Terrassa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mandaue compared to Terrassa?
Rent for a central apartment: $263 in Mandaue versus $845 in Terrassa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Mandaue and in Terrassa?
Childcare runs $228 in Mandaue versus $628 in Terrassa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Mandaue and in Terrassa?
Dining out is cheaper in Mandaue – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $69.0 in Terrassa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mandaue or in Terrassa?
At $905 in Mandaue versus $1,753 in Terrassa, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mandaue but tight or insufficient in Terrassa. The gap between the two cities makes Mandaue the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Mandaue or Terrassa?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Mandaue compared to Terrassa?
Safety-wise, Mandaue and Terrassa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mandaue gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Terrassa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.