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 $963 per month in Manila vs $841 in Las Pinas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,305 in Las Pinas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,768 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 28% lower, Las Pinas 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱330

$4.81 ₱294

12.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,639

$23.79 ₱1,456

12.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱278

$3.08 ₱189

47.40%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱160

$2.65 ₱162

-1.13%

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

$0.98 ₱60.2

$1.00 ₱61.3

-2.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱32.93

$0.53 ₱32.45

1.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱90.8

$1.31 ₱80.1

12.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱167

$2.58 ₱158

5.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱120

$2.15 ₱132

-8.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱85.4

$1.32 ₱80.5

6.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.2

$1.07 ₱65.5

-3.74%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱127

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱557

$6.85 ₱419

32.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱318

$4.41 ₱270

17.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱533

$7.01 ₱429

24.11%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱208

$3.50 ₱214

-2.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱111

$1.64 ₱100

10.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱224

$2.88 ₱176

27.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱154

$1.63 ₱99.9

54.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$2.82 ₱173

-0.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱189

$3.15 ₱193

-1.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$1.62 ₱99.4

22.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱41.97

$1.05 ₱64.0

-34.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱210

$3.40 ₱208

1.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱611

$9.52 ₱582

4.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱91.4

$1.44 ₱88.2

3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱134

$2.03 ₱124

7.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.54

$0.24 ₱14.70

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱724

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱56.7

$0.78 ₱47.59

19.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.58

$0.22 ₱13.45

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱132

$2.07 ₱127

4.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.2

$1.11 ₱68.1

0.90%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$25.3K ₱1.5M

4.97%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

11.33%

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

$135 ₱8,238

$136 ₱8,316

-0.93%

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

$22.00 ₱1,346

$24.63 ₱1,507

-10.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,712

$30.52 ₱1,867

-8.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,573

$52.2 ₱3,193

-19.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱428

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱411

$6.57 ₱402

2.44%

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

$365 ₱22.3K

$105 ₱6,433

247.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱707.4K

$2,750 ₱168.2K

320.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,874

$32.50 ₱1,988

44.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,142

$29.21 ₱1,787

19.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,000

$83.5 ₱5,110

-2.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,813

$47.28 ₱2,893

-2.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱29.9K

$209 ₱12.8K

133.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.5K

$170 ₱10.4K

58.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱103.2K

$666 ₱40.7K

153.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.5K

$396 ₱24.2K

59.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱264.6K

$499 ₱30.5K

766.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱161.5K

$327 ₱20.0K

706.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.7K

$553 ₱33.8K

-18.23%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Las Pinas: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $209 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 22% 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 $27.00 in Manila versus $24.00 in Las Pinas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $222 – 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: $963 in Manila, $841 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 $1,444 per month in Manila and $1,261 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 $963 in Manila and $841 in Las Pinas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $365 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 $841, than in Manila at $963. 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 $841 in Las Pinas 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 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.