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 $963 per month in Manila vs $788 in San Fernando, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,177 in San Fernando, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,566 in San Fernando, rent included.

Manila costs about 22% more than San Fernando, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and San Fernando are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, San Fernando 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱330

$3.65 ₱223

47.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,639

$13.42 ₱821

99.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱278

$2.73 ₱167

66.30%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱160

$1.09 ₱66.6

140.37%

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

$0.98 ₱60.2

$0.45 ₱27.54

117.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱32.93

$0.37 ₱22.39

45.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱90.8

$1.35 ₱82.3

9.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱167

$1.39 ₱85.3

96.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱120

$1.82 ₱112

7.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱85.4

$1.23 ₱75.5

13.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.2

$0.97 ₱59.4

6.19%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱127

$2.26 ₱138

-8.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱557

$8.92 ₱546

2.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱318

$3.86 ₱236

34.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱533

$7.70 ₱471

12.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱208

$2.62 ₱160

29.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱111

$1.82 ₱111

-0.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱224

$2.30 ₱141

59.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱154

$1.21 ₱74.2

108.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$1.84 ₱112

52.72%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱189

$2.15 ₱131

43.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$0.67 ₱40.87

197.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱41.97

$0.61 ₱37.05

13.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱210

$3.31 ₱202

3.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱611

$8.38 ₱513

19.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱91.4

$1.08 ₱65.8

37.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱134

$1.50 ₱91.7

46.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.54

$0.26 ₱15.90

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱724

$20.91 ₱1,279

-43.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱56.7

$0.73 ₱44.84

27.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.58

$0.22 ₱13.45

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱132

$1.08 ₱66.3

100.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.2

$1.15 ₱70.4

-2.61%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$28.5K ₱1.7M

-6.89%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$23.5K ₱1.4M

-2.20%

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

$135 ₱8,238

$107 ₱6,550

25.78%

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

$22.00 ₱1,346

$17.45 ₱1,067

26.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,712

$26.29 ₱1,608

6.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,573

$30.92 ₱1,892

36.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱428

$4.35 ₱266

60.92%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱411

$4.41 ₱270

52.61%

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

$365 ₱22.3K

$60.9 ₱3,723

500.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱707.4K

$1,948 ₱119.2K

493.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,874

$34.49 ₱2,110

36.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,142

$15.97 ₱977

119.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,000

$52.3 ₱3,196

56.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,813

$47.28 ₱2,893

-2.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱29.9K

$354 ₱21.6K

38.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.5K

$243 ₱14.8K

11.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱103.2K

$590 ₱36.1K

186.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.5K

$479 ₱29.3K

31.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱264.6K

$2,226 ₱136.2K

94.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱161.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.7K

$334 ₱20.4K

35.56%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for San Fernando: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $354 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 36% 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 in Manila versus $13 in San Fernando. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $197 – 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: $963 in Manila, $788 in San Fernando – roughly 22% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $1,182 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 $963 in Manila and $788 in San Fernando. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 77% 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 $788, than in Manila at $963. 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 $788 in San Fernando to $963 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.