Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and General Trias Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and General Trias

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $968 per month in Manila vs $735 in General Trias, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Manila vs $1,215 in General Trias, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,085 per month in Manila vs $1,695 in General Trias, rent included.

Manila costs about 32% more than General Trias, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and General Trias are more affordable than the global median – Manila 27% lower, General Trias 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱331

$4.42 ₱270

22.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,604

$20.78 ₱1,272

26.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱264

$2.86 ₱175

51.05%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱162

$2.08 ₱128

27.40%

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

$0.96 ₱58.6

$0.46 ₱27.94

108.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.24

$0.34 ₱20.65

58.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.4

$1.22 ₱74.8

25.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱167

$1.69 ₱104

61.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱116

$2.08 ₱127

-8.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.5

$1.20 ₱73.6

10.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.6

$1.09 ₱66.8

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$2.03 ₱124

3.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱556

$6.94 ₱425

30.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱313

$4.35 ₱266

17.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱509

$7.34 ₱450

13.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱213

$4.40 ₱269

-20.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱112

$1.53 ₱93.5

19.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$3.02 ₱185

20.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.66 ₱102

49.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$2.84 ₱174

-5.63%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱189

$4.03 ₱247

-23.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$1.59 ₱97.1

25.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.73

$1.01 ₱61.9

-30.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$3.15 ₱193

6.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱609

$8.76 ₱536

13.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.6

$1.62 ₱99.0

-10.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.98 ₱121

8.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.48

$0.28 ₱17.20

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱738

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.1

$0.76 ₱46.58

14.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.66

$0.22 ₱13.42

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.08 ₱127

0.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.0

$1.10 ₱67.1

2.73%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$13.0K ₱796.9K

103.85%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

14.24%

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

$136 ₱8,317

$34.76 ₱2,128

290.88%

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

$22.22 ₱1,360

$32.88 ₱2,012

-32.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,690

$24.23 ₱1,483

13.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,616

$34.29 ₱2,099

24.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱431

$4.30 ₱263

63.72%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱408

$6.95 ₱425

-4.03%

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

$363 ₱22.2K

$82.4 ₱5,044

340.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱694.8K

$2,823 ₱172.8K

302.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,875

$31.74 ₱1,943

47.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,122

$30.08 ₱1,841

15.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,084

$98.7 ₱6,043

-15.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,830

$93.9 ₱5,745

-50.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱29.9K

$109 ₱6,660

348.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.1K

$177 ₱10.9K

48.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.4K

$180 ₱11.0K

848.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.4K

$387 ₱23.7K

62.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱270.2K

$2,189 ₱134.0K

101.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱154.6K

$905 ₱55.4K

179.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

8.13

-7.50%

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

Last update for Manila: July 25, 2026

Last update for General Trias: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Manila versus $109 in General Trias. 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 $21.00 in General Trias. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $226 – making General Trias 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 General Trias: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila costs about 32% more than General Trias, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,452 per month in Manila and $1,102 in General Trias. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in General Trias, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $968 in Manila and $735 in General Trias. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $82.4 in General Trias. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in General Trias, where all-in costs run around $735, than in Manila at $968. In General Trias it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. General Trias costs $735 versus $968 in Manila. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 General Trias. 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.