Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Muntinlupa Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Muntinlupa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $919 in Muntinlupa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,444 in Muntinlupa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,970 in Muntinlupa, rent included.

Manila costs about 5% more than Muntinlupa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Manila and Muntinlupa are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Muntinlupa 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$4.67 ₱288

15.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$27.00 ₱1,665

-0.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.11 ₱192

45.98%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$2.63 ₱162

-0.38%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.93 ₱57.4

5.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.46 ₱28.07

17.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.39 ₱85.9

6.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.61 ₱161

4.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$1.89 ₱116

3.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.24 ₱76.3

12.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$1.09 ₱67.0

-5.50%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.04 ₱126

1.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$7.19 ₱443

26.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$4.67 ₱288

11.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$7.70 ₱475

12.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$3.83 ₱236

-11.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.62 ₱100.0

11.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$2.97 ₱183

23.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$2.38 ₱147

5.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$2.78 ₱172

1.08%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$3.08 ₱190

0.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$1.98 ₱122

0.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$1.02 ₱62.9

-32.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$3.25 ₱200

5.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$9.19 ₱567

8.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.55 ₱95.8

-3.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.03 ₱125

7.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.28 ₱17.27

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

$14.46 ₱892

-18.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.81 ₱50.0

14.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.24 ₱14.86

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.09 ₱129

3.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.16 ₱71.3

-3.45%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$25.9K ₱1.6M

2.42%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

10.72%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$136 ₱8,392

-1.03%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$21.93 ₱1,353

0.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$29.69 ₱1,831

-5.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$48.83 ₱3,012

-13.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$4.38 ₱270

59.82%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$6.54 ₱404

2.91%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$113 ₱6,957

223.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$4,528 ₱279.3K

155.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$45.98 ₱2,836

2.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$34.65 ₱2,137

1.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$98.2 ₱6,056

-16.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$92.4 ₱5,700

-50.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$402 ₱24.8K

21.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$210 ₱12.9K

28.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$1,171 ₱72.3K

44.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$448 ₱27.6K

40.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

$2,310 ₱142.5K

87.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

$832 ₱51.3K

217.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$641 ₱39.6K

-29.49%

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 Muntinlupa: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $402 in Muntinlupa. 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 42% higher in Muntinlupa, 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 $27.00 in Muntinlupa. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Manila vs $229 in Muntinlupa – so Muntinlupa 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 Muntinlupa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $963 in Manila, $919 in Muntinlupa – roughly 5% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $1,378 in Muntinlupa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Muntinlupa, 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 $919 in Muntinlupa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 22% less in Muntinlupa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Muntinlupa, where all-in costs run around $919, than in Manila at $963. In Muntinlupa 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 $919 in Muntinlupa 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 Muntinlupa. 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.