Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Quezon City Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Quezon City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $906 in Quezon City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,375 in Quezon City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,844 in Quezon City, rent included.

Manila costs about 6% more than Quezon City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Manila and Quezon City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Quezon City 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$4.89 ₱302

10.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$21.49 ₱1,325

24.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.12 ₱192

39.10%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.85 ₱176

-3.51%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.92 ₱56.8

4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.38 ₱23.27

31.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.22 ₱75.3

22.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.71 ₱167

-3.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$2.16 ₱133

-12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.20 ₱74.1

15.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$1.08 ₱66.4

-2.78%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.03 ₱125

7.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$7.10 ₱438

35.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.24 ₱261

22.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.39 ₱456

12.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$4.36 ₱269

-19.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.60 ₱98.6

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.98 ₱184

20.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.63 ₱101

52.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.89 ₱178

-4.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$4.16 ₱256

-27.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.57 ₱97.0

28.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$1.05 ₱64.5

-39.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$3.13 ₱193

6.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$7.20 ₱444

35.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.55 ₱95.4

-3.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$2.02 ₱125

6.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.46 ₱28.17

13.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.84 ₱51.6

2.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.25 ₱15.24

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.09 ₱67.1

6.42%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$25.3K ₱1.6M

3.75%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

12.29%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$161 ₱9,945

-14.24%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$33.64 ₱2,074

-33.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$30.00 ₱1,850

-7.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$24.35 ₱1,501

70.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$6.34 ₱391

8.68%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$7.22 ₱445

-8.86%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$79.8 ₱4,920

347.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$2,821 ₱173.9K

306.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$31.80 ₱1,961

45.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$29.11 ₱1,795

20.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$98.7 ₱6,085

-16.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$95.6 ₱5,894

-52.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$274 ₱16.9K

82.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$198 ₱12.2K

33.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$737 ₱45.5K

128.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$430 ₱26.5K

48.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,363 ₱145.7K

84.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$1,479 ₱91.2K

72.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$436 ₱26.9K

10.28%

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 Quezon City: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $274 in Quezon City. 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 10% 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 $21.00 in Quezon City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $224 – making Quezon City 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 Quezon City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $959 in Manila, $906 in Quezon City – roughly 6% 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 $1,359 in Quezon City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Quezon City, 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 $906 in Quezon City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $79.8 in Quezon City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Quezon City, where all-in costs run around $906, than in Manila at $959. In Quezon City 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 $906 in Quezon City 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 Quezon City. 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.