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 $963 per month in Manila vs $802 in San Jose del Monte, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,255 in San Jose del Monte, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,708 in San Jose del Monte, rent included.

Manila costs about 20% 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 28% lower, San Jose del Monte 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$4.38 ₱270

23.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$27.09 ₱1,671

-1.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.48 ₱215

30.46%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$2.73 ₱169

-4.03%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.82 ₱50.4

19.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.48 ₱29.66

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.50 ₱92.4

-1.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.59 ₱159

5.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$1.98 ₱122

-1.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.39 ₱85.6

0.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$0.95 ₱58.5

8.42%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.01 ₱124

2.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$9.20 ₱567

-0.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$5.24 ₱323

-0.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$8.62 ₱532

0.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$0.70 ₱43.09

385.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.82 ₱113

-0.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$0.54 ₱33.44

577.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.44 ₱89.0

75.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$2.19 ₱135

28.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$1.44 ₱88.8

114.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$1.05 ₱64.5

89.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.68 ₱42.02

1.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$3.34 ₱206

2.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$9.23 ₱569

8.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.39 ₱85.9

7.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.13 ₱132

2.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.26 ₱15.87

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.81 ₱50.1

14.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.22 ₱13.52

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.11 ₱130

2.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.16 ₱71.6

-3.45%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$26.7K ₱1.6M

-0.64%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$17.9K ₱1.1M

28.48%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$127 ₱7,809

6.36%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$21.76 ₱1,342

1.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$26.22 ₱1,617

6.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$34.55 ₱2,131

21.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$4.35 ₱268

60.92%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$6.79 ₱419

-0.88%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$150 ₱9,266

143.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$4,228 ₱260.8K

173.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$46.38 ₱2,861

1.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$34.49 ₱2,128

1.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$67.7 ₱4,176

20.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$46.56 ₱2,872

-1.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$270 ₱16.7K

81.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$178 ₱11.0K

51.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$592 ₱36.5K

184.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$389 ₱24.0K

62.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

$2,185 ₱134.8K

97.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for San Jose del Monte: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $270 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 $27.00 in Manila versus $27.00 in San Jose del Monte. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Manila vs $201 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: $963 in Manila, $802 in San Jose del Monte – roughly 20% 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 $1,202 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 $963 in Manila and $802 in San Jose del Monte. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $365 per month in Manila and $150 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 $802, than in Manila at $963. 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 $802 in San Jose del Monte 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 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.