Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and San Fernando Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and San Fernando

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $773 in San Fernando, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,543 per month in Manila vs $1,180 in San Fernando, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Manila vs $1,587 in San Fernando, rent included.

Manila costs about 24% more than San Fernando, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and San Fernando are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, San Fernando 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.22 ₱315

$3.58 ₱216

45.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.52 ₱1,597

$13.08 ₱788

102.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 ₱264

$2.59 ₱156

69.11%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ₱164

$1.03 ₱62.3

164.08%

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

$0.93 ₱55.9

$0.46 ₱27.43

102.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₱30.63

$0.36 ₱21.94

41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱91.7

$1.37 ₱82.4

10.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ₱163

$1.40 ₱84.6

93.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₱117

$1.91 ₱115

2.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 ₱81.9

$1.24 ₱74.9

9.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱65.5

$0.97 ₱58.4

12.37%

Eggs

$2.10 ₱127

$2.29 ₱138

-8.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 ₱570

$9.44 ₱569

0.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.24 ₱316

$3.90 ₱235

34.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.78 ₱529

$7.94 ₱478

10.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱205

$2.71 ₱163

25.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₱106

$1.80 ₱108

-1.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 ₱210

$2.34 ₱141

48.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₱145

$1.16 ₱69.6

107.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 ₱161

$1.83 ₱110

45.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 ₱190

$2.17 ₱131

45.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₱122

$0.67 ₱40.54

201.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱41.56

$0.59 ₱35.49

16.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱202

$3.22 ₱194

4.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.03 ₱604

$8.88 ₱535

12.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱87.9

$1.04 ₱62.5

40.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱129

$1.49 ₱89.6

43.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.03

$0.28 ₱16.91

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 ₱723

$20.85 ₱1,256

-42.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱55.1

$0.69 ₱41.60

33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.32

$0.24 ₱14.48

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₱131

$1.05 ₱63.2

107.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱69.6

$1.12 ₱67.2

3.57%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$28.2K ₱1.7M

-4.83%

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

$23.1K ₱1.4M

$23.9K ₱1.4M

-3.27%

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

$134 ₱8,058

$105 ₱6,346

26.98%

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

$22.30 ₱1,343

$17.45 ₱1,051

27.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 ₱1,622

$26.20 ₱1,578

2.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.13 ₱2,537

$31.38 ₱1,890

34.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.77 ₱408

$4.42 ₱266

53.17%

Cinema Ticket

$6.57 ₱395

$4.38 ₱264

50.00%

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

$354 ₱21.3K

$61.1 ₱3,681

479.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱675.0K

$1,952 ₱117.6K

474.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.31 ₱2,849

$34.53 ₱2,080

37.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.90 ₱2,102

$15.66 ₱943

122.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.5 ₱4,966

$54.1 ₱3,261

52.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.21 ₱2,783

$46.61 ₱2,807

-0.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.1K

$357 ₱21.5K

39.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.4K

$244 ₱14.7K

11.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,716 ₱103.3K

$597 ₱35.9K

187.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 ₱38.0K

$494 ₱29.8K

27.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,360 ₱262.6K

$2,203 ₱132.7K

97.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,599 ₱156.5K

$1,080 ₱65.1K

140.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$516 ₱31.1K

$353 ₱21.2K

46.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

5.5

36.73%

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

Last update for Manila: June 14, 2026

Last update for San Fernando: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $357 in San Fernando. 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 46% 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 $13.00 in San Fernando. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $201 – making San Fernando 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: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $957 in Manila, $773 in San Fernando – roughly 24% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,160 in San Fernando. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Fernando, 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 $773 in San Fernando. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 74% less in San Fernando. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in San Fernando, where all-in costs run around $773, than in Manila at $957. In San Fernando 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 $773 in San Fernando 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 San Fernando. 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.