Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and San Jose del Monte Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and San Jose del Monte

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $968 per month in Manila vs $777 in San Jose del Monte, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Manila vs $1,210 in San Jose del Monte, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,085 per month in Manila vs $1,643 in San Jose del Monte, rent included.

Manila costs about 25% more than San Jose del Monte, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and San Jose del Monte are more affordable than the global median – Manila 27% lower, San Jose del Monte 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱332

$4.48 ₱275

20.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,609

$26.83 ₱1,647

-2.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱265

$3.60 ₱221

20.00%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱163

$2.74 ₱168

-3.28%

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

$0.96 ₱58.8

$0.86 ₱53.1

11.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.34

$0.49 ₱29.86

10.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.7

$1.42 ₱87.3

7.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.67 ₱164

2.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.89 ₱116

0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.7

$1.34 ₱82.3

-0.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.8

$1.00 ₱61.4

9.00%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$2.04 ₱125

3.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱558

$9.48 ₱582

-4.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱314

$5.10 ₱313

0.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱511

$8.31 ₱510

0.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱214

$0.72 ₱44.45

383.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱113

$1.82 ₱112

0.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$0.55 ₱33.85

563.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.38 ₱85.0

79.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$2.11 ₱130

27.01%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱190

$1.38 ₱84.9

123.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$1.09 ₱67.0

82.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.86

$0.65 ₱39.61

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$3.47 ₱213

-3.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱610

$8.73 ₱536

13.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.9

$1.39 ₱85.2

4.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱132

$2.14 ₱132

0.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.58

$0.28 ₱17.29

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱741

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.3

$0.78 ₱47.84

11.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.71

$0.24 ₱14.74

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.17 ₱134

-3.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.2

$1.15 ₱70.8

-1.74%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

1.42%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$17.4K ₱1.1M

32.14%

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

$136 ₱8,343

$127 ₱7,812

6.79%

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

$22.22 ₱1,364

$21.60 ₱1,326

2.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,695

$26.31 ₱1,616

4.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,624

$34.15 ₱2,097

25.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱432

$4.54 ₱279

55.07%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱409

$6.76 ₱415

-1.33%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$149 ₱9,144

143.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱696.9K

$4,314 ₱264.9K

163.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,884

$46.32 ₱2,844

1.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,128

$33.63 ₱2,065

3.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,100

$67.9 ₱4,166

22.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,838

$45.85 ₱2,815

0.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱30.0K

$268 ₱16.5K

82.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.2K

$177 ₱10.8K

49.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.7K

$590 ₱36.2K

188.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.5K

$397 ₱24.4K

57.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱271.0K

$2,239 ₱137.5K

97.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱155.1K

$990 ₱60.8K

155.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.17

21.88%

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

Last update for Manila: July 25, 2026

Last update for San Jose del Monte: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Manila versus $268 in San Jose del Monte. 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $27.00 in San Jose del Monte. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Manila vs $197 in San Jose del Monte – so San Jose del Monte wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Jose del Monte: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $968 in Manila, $777 in San Jose del Monte – roughly 25% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,452 per month in Manila and $1,165 in San Jose del Monte. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Jose del Monte, 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 $968 in Manila and $777 in San Jose del Monte. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $149 in San Jose del Monte. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Jose del Monte, where all-in costs run around $777, than in Manila at $968. In San Jose del Monte 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 $777 in San Jose del Monte to $968 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 Jose del Monte. 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.