Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and San Fernando, La Union Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and San Fernando, La Union

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $677 in San Fernando, La Union, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,032 in San Fernando, La Union, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,387 in San Fernando, La Union, rent included.

Manila costs about 42% more than San Fernando, La Union, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Manila and San Fernando, La Union are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, San Fernando, La Union 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$3.62 ₱224

48.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$18.01 ₱1,111

48.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.24 ₱200

33.95%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.48 ₱153

10.89%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.78 ₱48.35

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.37 ₱22.54

35.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.30 ₱79.9

14.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.10 ₱130

24.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$2.94 ₱181

-35.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.27 ₱78.3

8.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.93 ₱57.4

12.90%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.00 ₱123

9.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$8.17 ₱504

17.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.24 ₱261

22.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.51 ₱463

10.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.96 ₱182

18.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.55 ₱95.4

16.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.64 ₱163

35.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.61 ₱99.3

54.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.30 ₱142

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.61 ₱161

16.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.06 ₱65.5

89.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.73 ₱44.80

-12.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.92 ₱180

13.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$8.20 ₱506

18.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.21 ₱74.5

23.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.99 ₱123

8.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.28 ₱17.37

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.82 ₱50.6

4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.24 ₱14.88

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.07 ₱128

4.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.16 ₱71.2

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

0.16%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

9.64%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$111 ₱6,873

24.09%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$32.80 ₱2,023

-32.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$27.83 ₱1,716

-0.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$13.42 ₱828

208.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.49 ₱277

53.45%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$5.82 ₱359

13.06%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$153 ₱9,463

132.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$5,736 ₱353.7K

99.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$44.93 ₱2,770

3.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$26.48 ₱1,633

32.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$35.74 ₱2,204

130.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$40.67 ₱2,508

12.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$131 ₱8,067

281.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$123 ₱7,593

114.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$249 ₱15.4K

576.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$215 ₱13.3K

195.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,315 ₱142.8K

88.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$974 ₱60.1K

161.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.67

12.74%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for San Fernando, La Union: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $131 in San Fernando, La Union. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $18.00 in San Fernando, La Union. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $216 – making San Fernando, La Union 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 San Fernando, La Union: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $959 in Manila, $677 in San Fernando, La Union – roughly 42% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $1,016 in San Fernando, La Union. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Fernando, La Union, 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 $677 in San Fernando, La Union. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $153 in San Fernando, La Union. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in San Fernando, La Union, where all-in costs run around $677, than in Manila at $959. In San Fernando, La Union 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 $677 in San Fernando, La Union 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 San Fernando, La Union. 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.