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 $957 per month in Manila vs $896 in Quezon City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,374 in Quezon City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $1,851 in Quezon City, rent included.

Manila costs about 7% 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 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$4.84 ₱298

9.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$21.35 ₱1,315

27.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$3.19 ₱196

42.63%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$2.86 ₱176

-4.55%

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

$0.96 ₱59.3

$0.95 ₱58.3

1.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.35 ₱21.37

42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.27 ₱78.1

21.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$2.58 ₱159

2.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$2.17 ₱133

-12.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$1.22 ₱75.0

9.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$1.07 ₱65.7

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$1.99 ₱123

4.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$7.14 ₱439

29.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$4.13 ₱254

26.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱527

$7.00 ₱431

22.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$4.42 ₱272

-19.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.59 ₱97.7

13.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.96 ₱182

20.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.63 ₱100

53.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$2.77 ₱171

0.36%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$4.20 ₱259

-24.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.59 ₱97.8

24.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$1.05 ₱64.7

-35.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$3.20 ₱197

3.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$7.80 ₱480

21.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.54 ₱95.0

-5.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.99 ₱122

6.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.46 ₱28.31

4.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.76 ₱47.06

15.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.25 ₱15.35

8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.09 ₱129

-0.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.14 ₱69.9

2.63%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$25.2K ₱1.6M

3.43%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

10.32%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$167 ₱10.3K

-18.82%

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

$21.56 ₱1,328

$33.45 ₱2,059

-35.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$29.64 ₱1,825

-6.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$24.65 ₱1,518

67.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$6.14 ₱378

11.07%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$7.00 ₱431

-1.14%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$82.6 ₱5,088

339.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$2,782 ₱171.3K

316.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$31.68 ₱1,951

48.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$29.16 ₱1,795

17.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$99.2 ₱6,105

-17.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$93.9 ₱5,780

-49.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$271 ₱16.7K

78.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$197 ₱12.1K

38.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$716 ₱44.1K

141.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$421 ₱25.9K

52.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$2,356 ₱145.0K

83.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$1,447 ₱89.1K

79.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

$447 ₱27.5K

4.40%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Quezon City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Manila versus $271 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 4% 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: $241 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: $957 in Manila, $896 in Quezon City – roughly 7% 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 $1,345 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 $957 in Manila and $896 in Quezon City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $82.6 in Quezon City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Manila and $896 in Quezon City, 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 $896 in Quezon City 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 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.