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: $958 in Manila versus $539 in Dasmarinas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,515 in Manila versus $986 in Dasmarinas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,073 in Manila versus $1,432 in Dasmarinas.

Living in Manila is roughly 78% more expensive than Dasmarinas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 29% lower, Dasmarinas 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 ₱331

$3.48 ₱212

56.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 ₱1,596

$13.43 ₱815

95.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱263

$2.71 ₱165

59.41%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ₱164

$1.65 ₱100.0

64.24%

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

$0.91 ₱55.0

$0.54 ₱32.53

68.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.33 ₱20.21

51.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 ₱91.0

$1.07 ₱65.0

40.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₱160

$1.30 ₱79.2

102.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.60 ₱97.0

18.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱83.8

$1.11 ₱67.2

24.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.9

$0.81 ₱49.03

33.33%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱130

$2.03 ₱123

5.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 ₱578

$5.79 ₱352

64.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ₱324

$3.73 ₱227

42.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 ₱508

$8.12 ₱493

3.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱206

$2.64 ₱161

28.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.46 ₱88.7

24.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱222

$1.73 ₱105

111.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱151

$0.68 ₱41.21

266.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱169

$1.09 ₱66.0

155.05%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₱185

$2.21 ₱134

38.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ₱124

$0.72 ₱43.58

183.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₱39.71

$0.42 ₱25.64

54.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ₱208

$2.08 ₱126

64.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱577

$9.14 ₱555

3.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.07 ₱64.9

34.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱130

$2.32 ₱141

-7.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.13

$0.26 ₱15.67

96.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 ₱719

$4.56 ₱277

159.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱55.5

$0.93 ₱56.7

-2.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.18

$0.22 ₱13.31

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱126

$2.44 ₱148

-14.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.3

$1.10 ₱66.8

5.45%

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

$26.3K ₱1.6M

$31.7K ₱1.9M

-17.09%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

10.54%

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

$136 ₱8,261

$42.68 ₱2,592

218.77%

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

$22.24 ₱1,350

$34.88 ₱2,118

-36.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.14 ₱1,648

$26.27 ₱1,595

3.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ₱2,559

$11.89 ₱722

254.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ₱418

$4.30 ₱261

60.00%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱400

$5.87 ₱356

12.10%

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

$362 ₱22.0K

$149 ₱9,024

143.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱681.7K

$4,753 ₱288.6K

136.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.99 ₱2,853

$48.33 ₱2,935

-2.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 ₱2,148

$27.66 ₱1,679

27.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,001

$76.0 ₱4,616

8.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.51 ₱2,824

$46.97 ₱2,852

-0.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₱29.8K

$267 ₱16.2K

84.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.3K

$83.1 ₱5,044

222.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 ₱104.8K

$576 ₱35.0K

199.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 ₱37.7K

$401 ₱24.4K

54.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,269 ₱259.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,574 ₱156.3K

$393 ₱23.9K

554.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$487 ₱29.5K

$369 ₱22.4K

31.71%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Dasmarinas: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $491 in Manila and $267 in Dasmarinas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 32% 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 $13.00 in Dasmarinas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $175 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 78% in total monthly costs ($958 vs $539 including rent). Dasmarinas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Manila pays 32% 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: $491 in Manila versus $267 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 160% less than in Manila. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $362 in Manila versus $149 in Dasmarinas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $539 in Dasmarinas versus $958 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 78% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.