Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Roxas Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Roxas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $931 per month in Manila vs $376 in Roxas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,519 per month in Manila vs $611 in Roxas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,106 per month in Manila vs $847 in Roxas, rent included.

Manila costs about 148% more than Roxas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Roxas are more affordable than the global median – Manila 31% lower, Roxas 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.61 ₱352

$2.76 ₱173

103.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.39 ₱1,718

$19.33 ₱1,212

41.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.95 ₱248

$2.42 ₱152

63.22%

Cappuccino

$2.56 ₱161

$1.88 ₱118

36.17%

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

$1.42 ₱89.1

$0.45 ₱28.40

215.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₱50.9

$0.17 ₱10.36

376.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 ₱73.2

$1.05 ₱65.9

11.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₱148

$1.75 ₱110

34.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱122

$1.69 ₱106

14.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱88.0

$0.89 ₱56.1

57.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₱64.2

$0.84 ₱52.8

21.43%

Eggs

$2.29 ₱144

$1.94 ₱121

18.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.86 ₱493

$5.81 ₱364

35.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 ₱307

$3.96 ₱248

23.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱425

$6.35 ₱398

6.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 ₱212

$1.62 ₱102

108.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 ₱116

$0.95 ₱59.5

94.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 ₱186

$1.31 ₱82.1

125.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 ₱112

$0.82 ₱51.5

118.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 ₱140

$0.93 ₱58.5

140.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 ₱168

$0.93 ₱58.6

189.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 ₱138

$1.47 ₱91.9

49.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.25

$0.77 ₱47.99

-23.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 ₱196

$2.21 ₱139

41.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.42 ₱591

$6.22 ₱390

51.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₱83.3

$1.11 ₱69.3

19.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.25 ₱78.5

60.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.58 ₱789

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.77

$0.78 ₱49.08

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.33 ₱20.93

-30.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 ₱122

$2.33 ₱146

-16.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₱83.5

$1.01 ₱63.3

31.68%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.5K ₱1.3M

-0.65%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.0K ₱1.2M

3.52%

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

$121 ₱7,614

$62.5 ₱3,918

94.33%

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

$16.04 ₱1,006

$7.90 ₱496

103.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.25 ₱1,521

$21.35 ₱1,339

13.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.44 ₱2,724

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.90 ₱370

Cinema Ticket

$6.63 ₱416

$4.69 ₱294

41.36%

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

$613 ₱38.4K

$32.11 ₱2,014

1807.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,953 ₱561.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.2 ₱3,647

$23.66 ₱1,484

145.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.18 ₱1,704

$17.88 ₱1,121

52.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.5 ₱4,862

$56.4 ₱3,539

37.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.0 ₱3,574

$24.27 ₱1,522

134.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.5K

$315 ₱19.7K

69.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱18.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,916 ₱120.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$677 ₱42.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,439 ₱278.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,556 ₱160.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$485 ₱30.4K

$564 ₱35.4K

-13.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

7.33

1.36%

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

Last update for Manila: October 4, 2026

Last update for Roxas: October 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $315 in Roxas. 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 16% higher in Roxas, 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 $19.00 in Roxas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $156 – making Roxas 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 Roxas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $931 in Manila, $376 in Roxas – roughly 148% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,396 per month in Manila and $563 in Roxas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Roxas, 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 $931 in Manila and $376 in Roxas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $613 per month in Manila and $32.11 in Roxas. 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 Roxas, where all-in costs run around $376, than in Manila at $931. In Roxas 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 $376 in Roxas to $931 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 Roxas. 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.