Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Lucena Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Lucena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $487 in Lucena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $848 in Lucena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,208 in Lucena, rent included.

Manila costs about 97% more than Lucena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Lucena are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Lucena 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$1.65 ₱102

226.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$9.04 ₱557

196.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$1.82 ₱112

138.46%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$1.06 ₱65.5

159.43%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.67 ₱41.13

43.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.35 ₱21.33

42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.00 ₱61.6

49.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.44 ₱89.1

81.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.68 ₱104

12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.26 ₱77.7

9.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.94 ₱57.7

11.70%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.02 ₱124

7.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$7.00 ₱432

37.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$1.46 ₱90.2

255.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$2.74 ₱169

203.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$0.87 ₱53.8

302.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.03 ₱63.6

74.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$0.91 ₱56.4

293.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$0.69 ₱42.82

260.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$1.04 ₱64.3

165.38%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$1.17 ₱72.0

158.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.27 ₱78.3

58.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.70 ₱42.91

-8.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$3.15 ₱194

5.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$7.42 ₱457

31.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.63 ₱100

-8.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$0.93 ₱57.1

131.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.29 ₱17.61

79.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.76 ₱47.06

13.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.25 ₱15.27

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.09 ₱129

3.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.10 ₱67.6

5.45%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$26.1K ₱1.6M

0.27%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

9.66%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$62.4 ₱3,847

121.74%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$7.24 ₱447

207.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$12.53 ₱772

121.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$34.43 ₱2,123

20.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$6.99 ₱431

-5.87%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$81.3 ₱5,015

338.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$2,829 ₱174.5K

305.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$32.39 ₱1,997

43.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$29.34 ₱1,809

19.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$53.7 ₱3,310

53.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$92.8 ₱5,724

-50.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$131 ₱8,084

281.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$79.3 ₱4,891

233.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$597 ₱36.8K

181.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$391 ₱24.1K

62.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$321 ₱19.8K

49.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

8.13

-7.50%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for Lucena: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $131 in Lucena. 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 50% 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 $9.00 in Lucena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $139 – making Lucena 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 Lucena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $959 in Manila, $487 in Lucena – roughly 97% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $731 in Lucena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lucena, 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 $9.00 in Lucena. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 74% 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 Lucena, where all-in costs run around $487, than in Manila at $959. In Lucena 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 $487 in Lucena to $959 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 Lucena. 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.