Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Las Pinas Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Las Pinas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $958 per month in Manila vs $842 in Las Pinas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,515 per month in Manila vs $1,311 in Las Pinas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,073 per month in Manila vs $1,779 in Las Pinas, rent included.

Manila costs about 14% more than Las Pinas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Las Pinas are more affordable than the global median – Manila 29% lower, Las Pinas 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 ₱331

$4.91 ₱298

11.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 ₱1,596

$24.34 ₱1,478

7.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱263

$3.19 ₱194

35.42%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ₱164

$2.73 ₱166

-0.73%

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

$0.91 ₱55.0

$0.95 ₱57.6

-4.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.50 ₱30.16

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 ₱91.0

$1.34 ₱81.6

11.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₱160

$2.71 ₱165

-2.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$2.10 ₱127

-10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱83.8

$1.32 ₱79.9

4.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.9

$1.05 ₱63.7

2.86%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱130

$2.15 ₱130

-0.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 ₱578

$6.84 ₱415

39.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ₱324

$4.40 ₱267

21.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 ₱508

$7.09 ₱431

18.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱206

$3.50 ₱212

-3.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.57 ₱95.6

15.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱222

$3.02 ₱183

21.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱151

$1.69 ₱103

47.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱169

$2.80 ₱170

-0.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₱185

$3.07 ₱186

-0.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ₱124

$1.64 ₱99.5

24.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₱39.71

$1.00 ₱60.9

-35.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ₱208

$3.41 ₱207

0.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱577

$9.32 ₱566

1.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.45 ₱88.3

-0.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱130

$1.97 ₱120

8.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.13

$0.22 ₱13.36

131.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 ₱719

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱55.5

$0.78 ₱47.44

16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.18

$0.22 ₱13.32

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱126

$2.14 ₱130

-2.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.3

$1.16 ₱70.6

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

$26.3K ₱1.6M

$25.2K ₱1.5M

4.18%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$20.3K ₱1.2M

9.99%

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

$136 ₱8,261

$138 ₱8,366

-1.26%

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

$22.24 ₱1,350

$24.90 ₱1,512

-10.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.14 ₱1,648

$29.47 ₱1,789

-7.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ₱2,559

$53.1 ₱3,225

-20.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ₱418

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱400

$6.90 ₱419

-4.64%

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

$362 ₱22.0K

$105 ₱6,389

243.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱681.7K

$2,784 ₱169.1K

303.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.99 ₱2,853

$31.86 ₱1,935

47.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 ₱2,148

$29.16 ₱1,771

21.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,001

$82.2 ₱4,990

0.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.51 ₱2,824

$46.14 ₱2,802

0.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₱29.8K

$211 ₱12.8K

132.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.3K

$167 ₱10.2K

59.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 ₱104.8K

$652 ₱39.6K

164.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 ₱37.7K

$397 ₱24.1K

56.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,269 ₱259.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,574 ₱156.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$487 ₱29.5K

$631 ₱38.3K

-22.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

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

Last update for Manila: June 7, 2026

Last update for Las Pinas: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $491 in Manila versus $211 in Las Pinas. 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 30% higher in Las Pinas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Manila versus $24.00 in Las Pinas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $221 – making Las Pinas 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 Las Pinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $958 in Manila, $842 in Las Pinas – roughly 14% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,437 per month in Manila and $1,264 in Las Pinas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Las Pinas, 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 $958 in Manila and $842 in Las Pinas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $362 per month in Manila and $105 in Las Pinas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Las Pinas, where all-in costs run around $842, than in Manila at $958. In Las Pinas 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 $842 in Las Pinas to $958 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 Las Pinas. 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.