Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Alabang Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Alabang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $686 in Alabang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,093 in Alabang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,499 in Alabang, rent included.

Manila costs about 40% more than Alabang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Alabang are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Alabang 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$3.98 ₱246

35.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$21.12 ₱1,302

27.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$2.25 ₱139

92.89%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.64 ₱163

4.17%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.97 ₱59.9

-1.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.37 ₱22.93

35.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.26 ₱77.9

18.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.60 ₱160

0.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.62 ₱99.8

16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.17 ₱72.1

17.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.73 ₱44.83

43.84%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$1.97 ₱121

10.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$7.05 ₱435

36.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$2.93 ₱180

77.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$6.69 ₱413

24.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.13 ₱131

64.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.38 ₱85.0

30.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$1.65 ₱102

116.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.63 ₱101

52.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$1.21 ₱74.7

128.10%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$3.27 ₱202

-7.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.55 ₱95.8

29.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.73 ₱45.31

-12.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.07 ₱128

60.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$7.23 ₱446

34.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.21 ₱74.9

23.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.81 ₱112

18.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.28 ₱17.40

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.78 ₱48.10

10.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.22 ₱13.49

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.14 ₱132

0.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.13 ₱69.7

2.65%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$25.8K ₱1.6M

1.65%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

11.33%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$47.23 ₱2,912

192.86%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$32.50 ₱2,004

-31.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$29.42 ₱1,814

-5.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$33.84 ₱2,086

22.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.52 ₱279

52.43%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$3.60 ₱222

82.78%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$65.8 ₱4,059

442.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$2,768 ₱170.7K

314.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$31.71 ₱1,955

46.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$18.01 ₱1,111

95.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$96.4 ₱5,944

-14.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$52.7 ₱3,249

-13.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$248 ₱15.3K

101.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$176 ₱10.9K

50.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$593 ₱36.5K

184.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$398 ₱24.5K

59.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,690 ₱165.9K

62.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$881 ₱54.3K

188.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

8.13

-7.50%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for Alabang: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $248 in Alabang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $21.00 in Alabang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $178 – making Alabang 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

Manila vs Alabang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manila is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $1,029 in Alabang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Alabang, 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 $27.00 in Manila and $21.00 in Alabang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Manila, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Alabang, where all-in costs run around $686, than in Manila at $959. In Alabang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Alabang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Alabang. 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.