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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $968 per month in Manila vs $743 in Imus, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Manila vs $1,140 in Imus, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,085 per month in Manila vs $1,537 in Imus, rent included.

Manila costs about 30% more than Imus, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Imus are more affordable than the global median – Manila 27% lower, Imus 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱331

$4.33 ₱265

24.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,604

$20.90 ₱1,279

25.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱264

$3.16 ₱193

36.71%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱162

$2.94 ₱180

-9.86%

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

$0.96 ₱58.6

$0.88 ₱53.7

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.24

$0.34 ₱21.02

58.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.4

$1.27 ₱77.5

20.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱167

$2.71 ₱166

0.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱116

$2.08 ₱127

-8.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.5

$1.20 ₱73.3

10.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.6

$0.94 ₱57.8

15.96%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$1.94 ₱119

8.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱556

$7.04 ₱431

29.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱313

$4.29 ₱262

19.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱509

$7.32 ₱448

13.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱213

$2.37 ₱145

46.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱112

$1.58 ₱96.5

15.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$2.96 ₱181

23.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.71 ₱105

45.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$1.73 ₱106

54.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱189

$3.62 ₱222

-14.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$1.64 ₱100

21.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.73

$0.83 ₱50.9

-15.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$3.26 ₱200

3.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱609

$9.12 ₱558

8.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.6

$1.33 ₱81.5

9.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.98 ₱121

8.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.48

$0.42 ₱25.74

21.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱738

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.1

$0.81 ₱49.65

7.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.66

$0.24 ₱14.71

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.07 ₱127

0.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.0

$1.15 ₱70.5

-1.74%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$25.6K ₱1.6M

3.81%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$17.5K ₱1.1M

31.45%

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

$136 ₱8,317

$127 ₱7,750

7.31%

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

$22.22 ₱1,360

$33.18 ₱2,031

-33.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,690

$26.98 ₱1,651

2.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,616

$33.35 ₱2,042

28.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱431

$4.33 ₱265

62.59%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱408

$6.93 ₱424

-3.75%

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

$363 ₱22.2K

$81.7 ₱5,001

344.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱694.8K

$4,391 ₱268.8K

158.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,875

$32.25 ₱1,974

45.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,122

$30.09 ₱1,842

15.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,084

$68.7 ₱4,207

20.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,830

$93.7 ₱5,737

-50.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱29.9K

$133 ₱8,127

267.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.1K

$111 ₱6,792

137.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.4K

$220 ₱13.4K

676.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.4K

$188 ₱11.5K

234.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱270.2K

$2,098 ₱128.4K

110.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱154.6K

$984 ₱60.3K

156.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.1K

$179 ₱11.0K

174.68%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Imus: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Manila versus $133 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 175% 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $21.00 in Imus. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 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: $968 in Manila, $743 in Imus – roughly 30% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,452 per month in Manila and $1,114 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 $26.00 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 15% 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 $743, than in Manila at $968. 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 $743 in Imus to $968 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.