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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $953 per month in Manila vs $727 in Roxas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,548 per month in Manila vs $1,124 in Roxas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Manila vs $1,521 in Roxas, rent included.

Manila costs about 31% more than Roxas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Roxas are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, Roxas 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.61 ₱346

$3.81 ₱235

47.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.02 ₱1,604

$16.51 ₱1,018

57.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.09 ₱252

$2.42 ₱149

69.01%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱155

$2.19 ₱135

15.07%

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

$1.46 ₱90.2

$0.49 ₱30.38

197.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.35 ₱21.71

131.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ₱73.6

$1.08 ₱66.8

10.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$1.72 ₱106

58.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.83 ₱113

9.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱93.3

$1.20 ₱74.3

25.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 ₱64.2

$0.95 ₱58.4

9.47%

Eggs

$2.30 ₱142

$2.00 ₱123

15.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.00 ₱493

$5.50 ₱339

45.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.92 ₱303

$3.78 ₱233

30.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.89 ₱425

$8.26 ₱509

-16.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 ₱212

$2.31 ₱143

48.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$1.53 ₱94.6

18.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.14 ₱194

$2.39 ₱147

31.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.23 ₱75.6

47.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.10 ₱129

9.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 ₱165

$2.04 ₱125

31.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 ₱126

$0.72 ₱44.10

184.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₱36.86

$0.62 ₱38.41

-3.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.09 ₱191

$2.84 ₱175

8.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.87 ₱609

$9.10 ₱561

8.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱83.0

$0.88 ₱54.4

53.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 ₱131

$1.73 ₱107

23.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.48

$0.28 ₱17.56

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.82 ₱790

$10.32 ₱636

24.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₱52.3

$0.75 ₱46.34

13.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.82

$0.26 ₱16.26

-7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 ₱119

$2.13 ₱131

-9.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ₱78.9

$1.20 ₱74.1

6.67%

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

$21.7K ₱1.3M

$21.9K ₱1.4M

-0.91%

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

$20.3K ₱1.3M

$17.8K ₱1.1M

14.14%

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

$122 ₱7,536

$106 ₱6,528

15.43%

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

$15.72 ₱969

$15.35 ₱946

2.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.31 ₱1,498

$21.67 ₱1,336

12.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.75 ₱2,759

$28.18 ₱1,737

58.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.03 ₱372

$4.80 ₱296

25.63%

Cinema Ticket

$7.40 ₱456

$4.83 ₱298

53.21%

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

$573 ₱35.3K

$133 ₱8,181

331.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,198 ₱567.0K

$7,021 ₱432.8K

31.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 ₱3,643

$28.46 ₱1,754

107.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.46 ₱1,754

$18.38 ₱1,133

54.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.4 ₱4,834

$70.2 ₱4,330

11.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.2 ₱3,649

$59.6 ₱3,673

-0.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$546 ₱33.6K

$270 ₱16.7K

101.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 ₱18.0K

$194 ₱12.0K

50.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 ₱120.1K

$483 ₱29.8K

303.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 ₱41.6K

$406 ₱25.1K

65.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,284 ₱264.1K

$2,527 ₱155.8K

69.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,542 ₱156.7K

$1,032 ₱63.6K

146.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$469 ₱28.9K

$590 ₱36.3K

-20.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.75

10.07%

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

Last update for Manila: August 17, 2026

Last update for Roxas: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $546 in Manila versus $270 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 26% 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $17.00 in Roxas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $186 – 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: $953 in Manila, $727 in Roxas – roughly 31% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,430 per month in Manila and $1,090 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 $953 in Manila and $727 in Roxas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 24% less in Roxas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Roxas, where all-in costs run around $727, than in Manila at $953. 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 $727 in Roxas to $953 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.