Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Clark Freeport Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Clark Freeport

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $984 in Manila versus $790 in Clark Freeport.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,549 in Manila versus $1,212 in Clark Freeport.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,114 in Manila versus $1,634 in Clark Freeport.

Living in Manila is roughly 24% more expensive than in Clark Freeport, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 26% lower, Clark Freeport 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.24 ₱323

$3.53 ₱218

48.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.22 ₱1,618

$17.84 ₱1,101

46.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.29 ₱203

37.99%

Cappuccino

$2.63 ₱162

$2.42 ₱150

8.68%

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

$0.95 ₱58.7

$0.77 ₱47.29

23.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱31.11

$0.39 ₱24.08

28.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱94.2

$1.31 ₱80.6

16.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 ₱167

$2.19 ₱135

23.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱118

$1.85 ₱114

3.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 ₱83.1

$1.21 ₱74.7

11.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.3

$0.95 ₱58.9

12.63%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱132

$2.05 ₱127

4.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 ₱575

$8.22 ₱507

13.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.17 ₱319

$4.36 ₱269

18.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.63 ₱533

$7.54 ₱466

14.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.51 ₱217

$2.89 ₱178

21.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₱111

$1.52 ₱93.8

17.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.60 ₱222

$2.63 ₱162

36.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.42 ₱149

$1.61 ₱99.7

50.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 ₱166

$2.31 ₱143

16.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.12 ₱193

$2.61 ₱161

19.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 ₱120

$1.12 ₱69.3

73.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.21

$0.71 ₱43.73

-4.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.45 ₱213

$2.79 ₱172

23.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.69 ₱598

$8.02 ₱495

20.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.1

$1.16 ₱71.6

25.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.97 ₱122

11.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 ₱30.03

$0.23 ₱14.21

113.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.09 ₱746

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.7

$0.82 ₱50.3

13.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.74

$0.22 ₱13.52

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.16 ₱134

-3.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.5

$1.14 ₱70.4

-2.63%

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

$26.7K ₱1.6M

$26.8K ₱1.7M

-0.43%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

10.59%

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

$135 ₱8,364

$115 ₱7,073

18.25%

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

$22.05 ₱1,361

$33.29 ₱2,055

-33.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.64 ₱1,706

$27.42 ₱1,693

0.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.18 ₱2,604

$34.53 ₱2,132

22.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.78 ₱419

$4.30 ₱266

57.67%

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₱415

$5.83 ₱360

15.27%

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

$359 ₱22.1K

$151 ₱9,312

137.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ₱694.5K

$4,304 ₱265.7K

161.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.36 ₱2,924

$45.65 ₱2,818

3.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.35 ₱2,120

$26.70 ₱1,648

28.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,086

$75.5 ₱4,662

9.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.84 ₱2,891

$52.1 ₱3,218

-10.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 ₱30.7K

$266 ₱16.4K

87.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.7K

$176 ₱10.9K

52.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,682 ₱103.8K

$598 ₱36.9K

181.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.3K

$396 ₱24.4K

60.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,330 ₱267.3K

$2,433 ₱150.2K

77.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,541 ₱156.9K

$1,080 ₱66.7K

135.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.2K

$318 ₱19.6K

48.88%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Clark Freeport: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $497 in Manila and $266 in Clark Freeport. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 49% 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: $26.00 in Manila vs $18.00 in Clark Freeport for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $205 per month, with Clark Freeport 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 Clark Freeport: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila and Clark Freeport differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($984 vs $790 including rent). Clark Freeport is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 49% higher in Manila, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $497 in Manila versus $266 in Clark Freeport. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $359 in Manila versus $151 in Clark Freeport. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Clark Freeport – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $26.00 in Manila. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $790 in Clark Freeport versus $984 in Manila, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Clark Freeport but tight or insufficient in Manila. The gap between the two cities makes Clark Freeport the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Manila and Clark Freeport 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 Clark Freeport gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.