Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Calamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Calamba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $959 in Manila versus $525 in Calamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,506 in Manila versus $764 in Calamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,052 in Manila versus $1,004 in Calamba.

Living in Manila is roughly 83% more expensive than in Calamba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 30% lower, Calamba 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱340

$4.06 ₱255

33.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,663

$11.82 ₱741

124.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$2.72 ₱170

44.12%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱157

$1.77 ₱111

41.81%

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

$1.39 ₱86.9

$0.56 ₱35.17

148.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.30 ₱19.10

176.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.0

$0.87 ₱54.7

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.56 ₱97.9

75.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.68 ₱105

12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.7

$1.12 ₱70.2

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱61.9

$0.96 ₱59.9

3.13%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$1.98 ₱124

16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱489

$4.94 ₱310

58.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱309

$3.42 ₱214

44.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱446

$8.04 ₱504

-11.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$2.31 ₱145

39.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.53 ₱95.7

23.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.32 ₱146

29.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱114

$1.08 ₱67.5

68.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$1.74 ₱109

27.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱164

$1.73 ₱108

51.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$0.62 ₱39.10

250.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.08

$0.53 ₱33.45

11.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱199

$2.86 ₱180

11.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱597

$8.58 ₱538

10.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.4

$0.96 ₱60.2

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$2.01 ₱126

0.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱805

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.21

$0.78 ₱48.68

-1.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.23 ₱14.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

$1.88 ₱118

4.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.5

$0.96 ₱60.2

32.29%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.7K ₱1.4M

-1.05%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

1.69%

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

$122 ₱7,632

$141 ₱8,814

-13.42%

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

$15.16 ₱950

$17.71 ₱1,110

-14.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,504

$23.73 ₱1,487

1.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,670

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱357

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱431

$5.23 ₱327

31.55%

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

$618 ₱38.7K

$133 ₱8,320

365.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱555.4K

$10.8K ₱674.2K

-17.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,655

$28.53 ₱1,788

104.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,749

$19.71 ₱1,235

41.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,877

$70.2 ₱4,399

10.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,664

$55.5 ₱3,478

5.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱275.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

$258 ₱16.2K

84.78%

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 12, 2026

Last update for Calamba: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Manila pays 85% 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: $27.00 in Manila vs $12.00 in Calamba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 vs $175 per month, with Calamba 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

Manila vs Calamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calamba wins on cost – living expenses run 83% lower than in Manila. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calamba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 85% higher in Manila, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Manila. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $959 per month in Manila versus $525 in Calamba – a 83% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $525 in Calamba versus $959 in Manila, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Calamba but tight or insufficient in Manila. The gap between the two cities makes Calamba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Calamba delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $525 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Calamba hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Manila and Calamba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Calamba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.