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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $958 per month in Manila vs $615 in Roxas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,515 per month in Manila vs $968 in Roxas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,073 per month in Manila vs $1,322 in Roxas, rent included.

Manila costs about 56% more than Roxas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Roxas are more affordable than the global median – Manila 29% lower, Roxas 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 ₱331

$2.74 ₱166

98.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 ₱1,596

$21.55 ₱1,309

21.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱263

$3.52 ₱214

22.73%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ₱164

$1.97 ₱119

37.56%

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

$0.91 ₱55.0

$0.56 ₱34.23

62.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.21 ₱12.95

138.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 ₱91.0

$0.95 ₱57.9

57.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₱160

$1.80 ₱109

46.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.18 ₱71.5

60.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱83.8

$1.07 ₱64.8

28.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.9

$0.80 ₱48.46

35.00%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱130

$2.24 ₱136

-4.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 ₱578

$5.93 ₱360

60.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ₱324

$1.92 ₱116

177.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 ₱508

$6.82 ₱414

22.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱206

$1.30 ₱78.8

160.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.12 ₱68.2

62.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱222

$1.41 ₱85.4

159.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱151

$1.12 ₱68.0

122.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱169

$1.04 ₱63.2

167.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₱185

$0.82 ₱50.0

271.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ₱124

$1.06 ₱64.5

92.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₱39.71

$0.45 ₱27.50

44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ₱208

$2.99 ₱181

14.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱577

$5.57 ₱338

70.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.26 ₱76.4

14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱130

$1.43 ₱86.9

49.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.13

$0.28 ₱17.14

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 ₱719

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱55.5

$0.68 ₱41.17

33.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.18

$0.24 ₱14.62

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱126

$2.58 ₱157

-19.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.3

$1.14 ₱69.0

1.75%

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

$26.3K ₱1.6M

$23.6K ₱1.4M

11.33%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$19.9K ₱1.2M

12.60%

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

$136 ₱8,261

$64.9 ₱3,941

109.63%

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

$22.24 ₱1,350

$9.09 ₱552

144.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.14 ₱1,648

$28.50 ₱1,730

-4.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ₱2,559

$33.61 ₱2,041

25.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ₱418

$4.35 ₱264

58.16%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱400

$5.47 ₱332

20.29%

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

$362 ₱22.0K

$34.93 ₱2,121

935.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱681.7K

$4,368 ₱265.2K

157.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.99 ₱2,853

$45.86 ₱2,784

2.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 ₱2,148

$22.66 ₱1,376

56.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,001

$62.5 ₱3,794

31.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.51 ₱2,824

$26.72 ₱1,623

74.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₱29.8K

$359 ₱21.8K

36.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.3K

$175 ₱10.6K

53.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 ₱104.8K

$576 ₱35.0K

199.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 ₱37.7K

$392 ₱23.8K

58.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,269 ₱259.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,574 ₱156.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$487 ₱29.5K

$586 ₱35.6K

-17.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

-6.00%

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

Last update for Manila: June 7, 2026

Last update for Roxas: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $491 in Manila versus $359 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 20% 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 $22.00 in Roxas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $142 – 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: $958 in Manila, $615 in Roxas – roughly 56% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,437 per month in Manila and $923 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 $958 in Manila and $615 in Roxas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $362 per month in Manila and $34.93 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 $615, than in Manila at $958. 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 $615 in Roxas to $958 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.