Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Imus Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Imus

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $771 in Imus, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,135 in Imus, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,500 in Imus, rent included.

Manila costs about 25% more than Imus, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Imus are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Imus 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$4.50 ₱278

19.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$21.45 ₱1,323

24.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.16 ₱195

43.67%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$2.96 ₱183

-11.49%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.87 ₱53.9

12.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.37 ₱22.97

45.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.22 ₱75.0

21.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.71 ₱167

0.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$2.07 ₱128

-5.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.26 ₱78.0

11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$1.01 ₱62.2

1.98%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.02 ₱125

2.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$7.09 ₱437

28.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$4.13 ₱255

25.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$7.10 ₱438

22.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$2.32 ₱143

46.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.53 ₱94.3

18.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$2.91 ₱180

25.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.66 ₱102

51.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$1.74 ₱107

61.49%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$3.51 ₱216

-11.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$1.64 ₱101

21.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.88 ₱54.3

-21.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$3.18 ₱196

8.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$9.14 ₱564

9.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.33 ₱82.3

12.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.99 ₱123

10.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.46 ₱28.23

4.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.83 ₱51.0

12.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.24 ₱14.85

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.12 ₱131

1.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.11 ₱68.4

0.90%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$25.6K ₱1.6M

3.70%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$17.8K ₱1.1M

28.77%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$129 ₱7,975

4.15%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$32.71 ₱2,018

-32.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$26.45 ₱1,631

5.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$34.39 ₱2,121

22.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$4.34 ₱268

61.29%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$7.05 ₱435

-4.54%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$81.9 ₱5,052

346.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$4,302 ₱265.3K

168.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$31.95 ₱1,971

47.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$29.51 ₱1,820

18.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$67.5 ₱4,166

21.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$95.7 ₱5,902

-51.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$134 ₱8,293

263.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$109 ₱6,701

148.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$221 ₱13.6K

663.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$189 ₱11.7K

232.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

$2,331 ₱143.8K

85.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$176 ₱10.8K

157.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.17

21.88%

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

Last update for Manila: April 27, 2026

Last update for Imus: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $134 in Imus. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 158% higher in Manila, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $21.00 in Imus. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $208 – making Imus 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 Imus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $963 in Manila, $771 in Imus – roughly 25% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $1,156 in Imus. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila and $21.00 in Imus. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Manila, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Imus, where all-in costs run around $771, than in Manila at $963. In Imus it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $771 in Imus to $963 in Manila. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Imus. 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.