Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Marikina Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Marikina

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $684 in Marikina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,072 in Marikina, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,459 in Marikina, rent included.

Manila costs about 40% more than Marikina, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Manila and Marikina are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Marikina 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$3.47 ₱214

55.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,656

$28.45 ₱1,755

-5.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱268

$3.46 ₱214

25.43%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.69 ₱166

2.23%

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

$0.96 ₱59.0

$0.72 ₱44.53

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.40 ₱24.95

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.08 ₱66.9

37.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.63 ₱162

-0.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱117

$2.05 ₱127

-7.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.4

$1.45 ₱89.8

-4.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$1.10 ₱68.1

-4.55%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.26 ₱139

-3.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$7.94 ₱490

21.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.61 ₱284

12.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.93 ₱489

4.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.72 ₱168

28.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.92 ₱119

-6.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.71 ₱167

32.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$2.16 ₱133

15.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$3.32 ₱205

-16.87%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.91 ₱179

4.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.14 ₱70.1

76.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.60

$0.69 ₱42.60

-7.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.85 ₱176

16.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$8.76 ₱541

11.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.24 ₱76.7

20.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$2.08 ₱128

3.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.93

$0.46 ₱28.48

13.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱741

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.76 ₱47.19

13.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.38

$0.12 ₱7.65

108.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$3.61 ₱223

-40.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.9

$1.10 ₱68.0

5.45%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$34.0K ₱2.1M

-23.03%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$17.4K ₱1.1M

30.41%

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

$138 ₱8,535

$110 ₱6,770

26.07%

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

$22.24 ₱1,372

$13.62 ₱840

63.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,710

$26.05 ₱1,607

6.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,555

$41.93 ₱2,587

-1.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$6.38 ₱394

3.13%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$321 ₱19.8K

11.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.8K

$1,131 ₱69.8K

913.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,864

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,167

$26.04 ₱1,607

34.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,084

$56.5 ₱3,485

45.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,825

$26.95 ₱1,663

69.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$178 ₱11.0K

181.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$88.2 ₱5,439

200.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.9K

$297 ₱18.3K

466.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$168 ₱10.4K

278.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.6K

$1,140 ₱70.3K

283.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱157.0K

$478 ₱29.5K

432.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$398 ₱24.5K

20.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.25

20.32%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for Marikina: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $178 in Marikina. 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 21% 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 $28.00 in Marikina. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Manila vs $222 in Marikina – so Marikina wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Marikina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $959 in Manila, $684 in Marikina – roughly 40% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $1,027 in Marikina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Marikina, 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 $959 in Manila and $684 in Marikina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $321 in Marikina. 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 Marikina, where all-in costs run around $684, than in Manila at $959. In Marikina 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 $684 in Marikina 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 Marikina. 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.