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 $927 per month in Manila vs $726 in Las Pinas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $1,116 in Las Pinas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,506 in Las Pinas, rent included.

Manila costs about 28% more than Las Pinas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Las Pinas are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Las Pinas 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱324

$4.10 ₱257

25.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,621

$23.62 ₱1,481

9.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱246

$2.75 ₱172

42.91%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱158

$1.84 ₱115

36.96%

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

$1.36 ₱85.1

$1.10 ₱68.7

23.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.44 ₱27.58

88.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.8

$1.15 ₱72.1

-1.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$2.44 ₱153

12.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱119

$1.71 ₱107

11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.6

$1.13 ₱70.7

26.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$1.02 ₱63.7

-3.92%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱140

$2.09 ₱131

6.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱501

$5.10 ₱320

56.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱294

$3.34 ₱209

40.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱427

$7.14 ₱447

-4.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱208

$2.26 ₱142

46.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$1.63 ₱102

12.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.41 ₱151

23.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.07 ₱67.3

73.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱142

$1.77 ₱111

27.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱169

$1.79 ₱112

50.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$0.67 ₱42.04

213.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.83

$0.49 ₱30.92

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱201

$2.95 ₱185

8.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱602

$9.69 ₱607

-0.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱83.0

$0.93 ₱58.1

41.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱132

$2.00 ₱125

5.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱29.04

$0.22 ₱13.80

109.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱795

$11.12 ₱697

14.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.76 ₱47.74

9.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.47

$0.23 ₱14.42

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱117

$1.87 ₱117

-0.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.6

$1.19 ₱74.8

4.20%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.7K ₱1.4M

-1.67%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

0.21%

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

$122 ₱7,647

$125 ₱7,810

-2.08%

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

$14.83 ₱930

$14.70 ₱922

0.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,502

$23.88 ₱1,497

0.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,662

$31.64 ₱1,983

34.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱363

$4.70 ₱294

23.19%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱431

$5.36 ₱336

28.36%

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

$621 ₱38.9K

$132 ₱8,279

370.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱555.8K

$9,045 ₱567.0K

-1.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,604

$32.44 ₱2,034

77.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,758

$19.68 ₱1,234

42.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,866

$72.6 ₱4,553

6.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,628

$56.4 ₱3,536

2.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.5K

$269 ₱16.9K

98.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱18.0K

$174 ₱10.9K

64.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$501 ₱31.4K

285.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.6K

$357 ₱22.4K

85.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱273.1K

$2,611 ₱163.7K

66.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱160.2K

$1,029 ₱64.5K

148.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.7K

$608 ₱38.1K

-22.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.75

10.07%

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

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Last update for Las Pinas: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $269 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 28% 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: $220 vs $176 – 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: $927 in Manila, $726 in Las Pinas – roughly 28% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,391 per month in Manila and $1,089 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Manila and $24.00 in Las Pinas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $927 in Manila and $726 in Las Pinas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Las Pinas, where all-in costs run around $726, than in Manila at $927. 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 $726 in Las Pinas to $927 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.