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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $664 in Marikina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,053 in Marikina, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $1,441 in Marikina, rent included.

Manila costs about 44% more than Marikina, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Manila and Marikina are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Marikina 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$3.47 ₱214

52.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,672

$28.88 ₱1,781

-6.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱281

$3.54 ₱218

28.53%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱169

$2.68 ₱165

1.87%

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

$0.96 ₱59.4

$0.68 ₱42.17

41.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱31.01

$0.44 ₱26.99

13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.9

$1.08 ₱66.5

42.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$2.72 ₱168

-2.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$2.10 ₱130

-9.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱82.1

$1.43 ₱88.3

-6.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.2

$1.07 ₱65.9

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$2.27 ₱140

-8.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱573

$8.10 ₱500

14.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$4.56 ₱281

14.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱527

$7.57 ₱467

12.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$2.71 ₱167

30.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.99 ₱123

-9.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.59 ₱160

38.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$2.19 ₱135

14.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$3.30 ₱203

-15.76%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱195

$2.94 ₱181

7.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.08 ₱66.8

83.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.24

$0.73 ₱44.88

-6.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.70 ₱166

22.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱586

$8.99 ₱554

5.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.2

$1.19 ₱73.4

22.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.08 ₱128

1.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.46

$0.46 ₱28.11

4.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱749

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.1

$0.77 ₱47.39

14.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.68

$0.13 ₱7.86

107.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$3.60 ₱222

-42.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.4

$1.09 ₱67.2

7.34%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$33.6K ₱2.1M

-22.45%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$17.4K ₱1.1M

31.02%

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

$135 ₱8,351

$110 ₱6,811

22.61%

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

$21.56 ₱1,330

$13.50 ₱832

59.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,701

$26.08 ₱1,608

5.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$41.72 ₱2,573

-0.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱427

$6.35 ₱391

8.98%

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

$363 ₱22.4K

$322 ₱19.9K

12.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱714.6K

$1,163 ₱71.7K

896.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,905

$46.46 ₱2,865

1.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,121

$25.76 ₱1,588

33.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,049

$58.7 ₱3,619

39.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,924

$27.03 ₱1,667

75.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$175 ₱10.8K

178.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$87.4 ₱5,392

210.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.6K

$290 ₱17.9K

497.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$170 ₱10.5K

277.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱267.2K

$1,150 ₱70.9K

276.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.5K

$485 ₱29.9K

436.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.8K

$395 ₱24.4K

18.16%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Marikina: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Manila versus $175 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 18% 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 $29.00 in Marikina. Groceries tell a different story – $241 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: $957 in Manila, $664 in Marikina – roughly 44% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Manila and $997 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 $957 in Manila and $664 in Marikina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $322 in Marikina. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Manila and $664 in Marikina, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $664 in Marikina to $957 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.