Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Binan City Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Binan City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $903 in Binan City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,355 in Binan City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,807 in Binan City, rent included.

Manila costs about 6% more than Binan City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Binan City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Binan City 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$4.75 ₱293

13.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$21.17 ₱1,305

26.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.15 ₱194

37.78%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.82 ₱174

-2.48%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.92 ₱56.6

4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.37 ₱23.02

35.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.22 ₱75.4

22.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.73 ₱168

-4.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$2.09 ₱129

-9.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.25 ₱76.9

10.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$1.12 ₱69.0

-6.25%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$1.96 ₱121

11.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$6.85 ₱422

40.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.53 ₱280

14.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.49 ₱462

11.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$4.46 ₱275

-21.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.60 ₱98.6

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.58 ₱159

38.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.64 ₱101

51.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.79 ₱172

-1.08%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.84 ₱175

6.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.57 ₱96.7

28.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.94 ₱58.0

-31.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$3.23 ₱199

2.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$7.96 ₱491

22.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.23 ₱76.1

21.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$2.02 ₱125

6.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.26 ₱15.91

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.78 ₱47.80

10.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.24 ₱14.82

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$3.45 ₱212

-37.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.11 ₱68.4

4.50%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$25.3K ₱1.6M

3.44%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

11.28%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$162 ₱9,977

-14.51%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$32.68 ₱2,015

-31.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$34.92 ₱2,153

-20.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$34.02 ₱2,098

21.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.40 ₱272

56.59%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$7.18 ₱443

-8.36%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$82.8 ₱5,103

331.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$6,950 ₱428.6K

65.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$31.40 ₱1,936

47.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$29.56 ₱1,823

18.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$85.8 ₱5,288

-3.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$92.6 ₱5,710

-50.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$266 ₱16.4K

87.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$175 ₱10.8K

51.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$586 ₱36.1K

187.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$387 ₱23.9K

64.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,276 ₱140.4K

91.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$891 ₱54.9K

185.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.67

12.74%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for Binan City: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $266 in Binan City. 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 Binan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $219 – making Binan City 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 Binan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manila is pricier by about 6%, 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 $1,354 in Binan City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Binan City, 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 $959 in Manila and $903 in Binan City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $82.8 in Binan City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Binan City, where all-in costs run around $903, than in Manila at $959. In Binan City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Binan City – 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 Binan City. 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.