Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Dasmarinas Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Dasmarinas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $967 in Manila versus $546 in Dasmarinas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,531 in Manila versus $990 in Dasmarinas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,095 in Manila versus $1,434 in Dasmarinas.

Living in Manila is roughly 77% more expensive than Dasmarinas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 28% lower, Dasmarinas 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.24 ₱317

$3.51 ₱212

49.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 ₱1,590

$13.37 ₱809

96.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.41 ₱267

$2.70 ₱163

63.33%

Cappuccino

$2.66 ₱161

$1.62 ₱98.3

64.20%

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

$0.96 ₱58.1

$0.53 ₱32.21

81.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.10

$0.30 ₱18.40

76.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 ₱93.8

$1.03 ₱62.6

50.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 ₱160

$1.35 ₱81.8

95.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱114

$1.63 ₱98.9

15.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱84.6

$1.10 ₱66.8

27.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 ₱63.2

$0.84 ₱51.1

23.81%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱129

$1.99 ₱120

7.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₱557

$5.52 ₱334

66.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.34 ₱323

$3.84 ₱232

39.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 ₱523

$7.80 ₱472

10.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱212

$2.69 ₱163

30.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 ₱106

$1.40 ₱84.6

25.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱217

$1.74 ₱105

105.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₱147

$0.69 ₱41.95

253.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱170

$1.04 ₱62.9

170.19%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱191

$2.30 ₱139

37.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱122

$0.73 ₱44.29

175.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱38.94

$0.43 ₱25.77

48.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱208

$2.08 ₱126

65.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.92 ₱600

$9.19 ₱556

7.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₱90.5

$1.07 ₱64.7

40.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 ₱135

$2.37 ₱143

-5.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.26

$0.26 ₱15.69

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.75 ₱711

$4.50 ₱273

161.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱55.1

$0.87 ₱52.9

4.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱14.99

$0.24 ₱14.60

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱126

$2.36 ₱143

-11.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.1

$1.11 ₱67.4

4.50%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$32.1K ₱1.9M

-16.54%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

9.79%

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

$136 ₱8,211

$44.14 ₱2,671

207.41%

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

$21.50 ₱1,301

$34.55 ₱2,091

-37.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.91 ₱1,689

$26.15 ₱1,582

6.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.80 ₱2,529

$11.79 ₱713

254.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.87 ₱416

$4.52 ₱274

51.99%

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ₱400

$5.78 ₱350

14.19%

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

$360 ₱21.8K

$149 ₱9,017

141.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ₱686.4K

$4,807 ₱290.9K

135.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 ₱2,800

$48.47 ₱2,933

-4.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.85 ₱2,109

$27.44 ₱1,660

27.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.4 ₱5,046

$75.8 ₱4,585

10.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.07 ₱2,788

$46.97 ₱2,842

-1.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 ₱29.5K

$265 ₱16.0K

83.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 ₱16.4K

$82.8 ₱5,008

227.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,707 ₱103.3K

$592 ₱35.8K

188.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 ₱37.9K

$389 ₱23.5K

60.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,407 ₱266.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,637 ₱159.6K

$407 ₱24.6K

548.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$462 ₱27.9K

$379 ₱22.9K

21.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.4

17.50%

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

Last update for Manila: April 20, 2026

Last update for Dasmarinas: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Manila and $265 in Dasmarinas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 22% 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 in Manila vs $13 in Dasmarinas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $174 per month, with Dasmarinas 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 Dasmarinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila and Dasmarinas differ by about 77% in total monthly costs ($967 vs $546 including rent). Dasmarinas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Manila pays 22% more on average, 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: $487 in Manila versus $265 in Dasmarinas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Dasmarinas runs roughly 161% less than in Manila. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $360 in Manila versus $149 in Dasmarinas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $546 in Dasmarinas versus $967 in Manila, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dasmarinas but tight or insufficient in Manila. The gap between the two cities makes Dasmarinas 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 Dasmarinas 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 Dasmarinas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.