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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $927 per month in Manila vs $746 in Alabang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $1,120 in Alabang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,495 in Alabang, rent included.

Manila costs about 24% more than Alabang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Alabang are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Alabang 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱322

$4.07 ₱254

26.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,613

$19.14 ₱1,193

35.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱245

$2.77 ₱173

41.88%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱157

$2.44 ₱152

3.28%

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

$1.36 ₱84.6

$0.74 ₱46.17

83.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.8

$0.34 ₱21.25

144.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.4

$1.01 ₱63.0

11.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱171

$1.90 ₱119

44.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱118

$1.67 ₱104

13.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.1

$1.17 ₱72.9

22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.1

$0.87 ₱54.4

12.64%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱139

$1.81 ₱113

23.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱498

$5.12 ₱319

56.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱292

$3.38 ₱211

38.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱424

$7.34 ₱458

-7.22%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱207

$2.30 ₱143

44.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$1.40 ₱87.2

30.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱186

$2.37 ₱148

25.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.03 ₱64.5

80.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱141

$1.69 ₱106

33.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱168

$1.79 ₱112

50.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$0.67 ₱41.69

213.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.65

$0.53 ₱33.30

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱200

$2.78 ₱174

15.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱599

$7.48 ₱466

28.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.6

$0.97 ₱60.4

36.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$1.76 ₱110

19.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱28.89

$0.25 ₱15.43

84.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱791

$11.03 ₱688

14.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.79 ₱49.26

5.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.97 ₱123

-5.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.1

$1.14 ₱71.3

8.77%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.9K ₱1.4M

-2.44%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

1.29%

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

$122 ₱7,607

$140 ₱8,743

-12.99%

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

$14.83 ₱925

$14.39 ₱897

3.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,494

$23.52 ₱1,467

1.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,648

$31.55 ₱1,968

34.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱361

$4.92 ₱307

17.68%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱429

$5.31 ₱331

29.57%

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

$621 ₱38.7K

$72.1 ₱4,494

761.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱552.8K

$2,476 ₱154.4K

257.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,586

$28.50 ₱1,777

101.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,749

$19.36 ₱1,208

44.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,840

$72.7 ₱4,535

6.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,609

$55.8 ₱3,477

3.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.3K

$226 ₱14.1K

136.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱17.9K

$170 ₱10.6K

69.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.2K

$510 ₱31.8K

278.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.4K

$354 ₱22.1K

87.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱271.6K

$2,556 ₱159.4K

70.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱159.3K

$1,055 ₱65.8K

142.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.75

10.07%

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

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Last update for Alabang: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $226 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $19.00 in Alabang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $169 – 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 24%, 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 $1,391 per month in Manila and $1,119 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.

Groceries cost about 30% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Manila and $19.00 in Alabang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Alabang, where all-in costs run around $746, than in Manila at $927. 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.