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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $968 per month in Manila vs $800 in San Juan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Manila vs $1,291 in San Juan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,085 per month in Manila vs $1,782 in San Juan, rent included.

Manila costs about 21% more than San Juan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and San Juan are more affordable than the global median – Manila 27% lower, San Juan 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱331

$2.71 ₱166

99.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,604

$8.83 ₱540

196.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱264

$3.65 ₱224

18.36%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱162

$2.86 ₱175

-7.34%

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

$0.96 ₱58.6

$0.81 ₱49.67

18.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.24

$0.44 ₱26.79

22.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.4

$1.50 ₱91.7

2.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱167

$2.02 ₱124

35.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱116

$1.80 ₱110

5.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.5

$1.62 ₱99.3

-17.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.6

$0.93 ₱57.0

17.20%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$2.00 ₱122

5.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱556

$7.88 ₱482

15.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱313

$5.04 ₱308

1.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱509

$10.83 ₱663

-23.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱213

$2.39 ₱147

45.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱112

$1.52 ₱93.0

20.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$3.15 ₱193

15.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.20 ₱73.3

106.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$1.68 ₱103

59.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱189

$3.43 ₱210

-9.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$1.06 ₱64.9

87.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.73

$0.88 ₱53.8

-20.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.92 ₱179

15.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱609

$7.88 ₱483

26.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.6

$0.74 ₱45.42

95.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.57 ₱96.2

36.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.48

$0.15 ₱9.43

240.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱738

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.1

$0.69 ₱42.26

26.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.66

$0.24 ₱14.75

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.18 ₱133

-4.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.0

$1.12 ₱68.8

0.89%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$28.7K ₱1.8M

-7.49%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$17.4K ₱1.1M

32.07%

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

$136 ₱8,317

$130 ₱7,937

4.79%

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

$22.22 ₱1,360

$33.03 ₱2,022

-32.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,690

$26.53 ₱1,624

4.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,616

$69.8 ₱4,270

-38.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱431

$4.51 ₱276

56.10%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱408

$4.03 ₱247

65.51%

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

$363 ₱22.2K

$145 ₱8,874

150.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱694.8K

$4,273 ₱261.5K

165.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,875

$44.93 ₱2,751

4.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,122

$33.70 ₱2,063

2.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,084

$69.1 ₱4,227

20.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,830

$113 ₱6,940

-59.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱29.9K

$262 ₱16.0K

86.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.1K

$104 ₱6,388

152.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.4K

$1,278 ₱78.2K

33.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.4K

$396 ₱24.2K

58.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱270.2K

$2,341 ₱143.3K

88.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱154.6K

$1,048 ₱64.1K

141.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.1K

$241 ₱14.8K

103.71%

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 Juan: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Manila versus $262 in San Juan. 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 104% 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $9.00 in San Juan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $216 – making San Juan 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 Juan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $968 in Manila, $800 in San Juan – roughly 21% 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 $1,200 in San Juan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Juan, 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 $800 in San Juan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $145 in San Juan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in San Juan, where all-in costs run around $800, than in Manila at $968. In San Juan 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 $800 in San Juan 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 Juan. 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.