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 $927 per month in Manila vs $732 in Binan City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $1,119 in Binan City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,505 in Binan City, rent included.

Manila costs about 27% more than Binan City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Binan City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Binan City 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱322

$4.07 ₱254

26.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,613

$16.51 ₱1,029

56.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱245

$2.75 ₱172

42.91%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱157

$1.77 ₱111

42.37%

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

$1.36 ₱84.6

$0.56 ₱34.77

142.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.8

$0.34 ₱21.42

144.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.4

$0.98 ₱60.9

15.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱171

$1.58 ₱98.5

73.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱118

$1.63 ₱102

16.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.1

$1.17 ₱73.1

22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.1

$1.02 ₱63.8

-3.92%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱139

$2.11 ₱131

5.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱498

$5.27 ₱329

51.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱292

$3.48 ₱217

34.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱424

$6.94 ₱433

-1.87%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱207

$2.30 ₱143

44.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$1.60 ₱99.5

14.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱186

$2.34 ₱146

27.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.04 ₱64.8

78.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱141

$1.70 ₱106

32.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱168

$1.75 ₱109

54.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$0.63 ₱39.18

233.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.65

$0.53 ₱32.89

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱200

$2.60 ₱162

23.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱599

$8.22 ₱513

16.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.6

$0.96 ₱59.7

37.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$1.99 ₱124

5.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱28.89

$0.27 ₱16.89

70.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱791

$11.26 ₱702

12.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.63 ₱39.25

31.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.23 ₱14.34

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.87 ₱116

-0.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.1

$1.21 ₱75.4

2.48%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.7K ₱1.4M

-1.55%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

-1.25%

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

$122 ₱7,607

$141 ₱8,818

-13.73%

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

$14.83 ₱925

$16.06 ₱1,001

-7.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,494

$31.54 ₱1,967

-24.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,648

$32.33 ₱2,016

31.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱361

$4.85 ₱302

19.38%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱429

$5.23 ₱326

31.55%

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

$621 ₱38.7K

$134 ₱8,380

362.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱552.8K

$7,391 ₱460.9K

19.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,586

$28.85 ₱1,799

99.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,749

$19.72 ₱1,230

42.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,840

$72.2 ₱4,503

7.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,609

$56.8 ₱3,542

1.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.3K

$264 ₱16.4K

102.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱17.9K

$171 ₱10.7K

67.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.2K

$491 ₱30.6K

292.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.4K

$353 ₱22.0K

88.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱271.6K

$2,560 ₱159.7K

70.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱159.3K

$1,050 ₱65.5K

143.27%

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 Binan City: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $264 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $17.00 in Binan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $173 – 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 27%, 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 $1,098 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.

Kindergarten costs $621 per month in Manila and $134 in Binan City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% 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 Binan City, where all-in costs run around $732, than in Manila at $927. 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.