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 $959 per month in Manila vs $749 in San Juan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,506 per month in Manila vs $1,110 in San Juan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,052 per month in Manila vs $1,472 in San Juan, rent included.

Manila costs about 28% more than San Juan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and San Juan are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, San Juan 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱341

$4.00 ₱251

35.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,664

$16.40 ₱1,029

61.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$2.74 ₱172

43.07%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱158

$2.23 ₱140

12.56%

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

$1.39 ₱87.0

$0.63 ₱39.24

120.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.31 ₱19.13

167.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.0

$1.06 ₱66.2

9.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.55 ₱97.3

76.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.60 ₱100

18.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.8

$1.15 ₱72.1

21.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱62.0

$0.89 ₱56.1

11.24%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$1.74 ₱109

32.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱490

$4.96 ₱311

57.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱309

$3.47 ₱217

42.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱446

$7.14 ₱448

-0.42%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$2.30 ₱144

40.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.36 ₱85.4

38.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.35 ₱147

28.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱114

$1.04 ₱65.2

75.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$1.74 ₱109

27.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱165

$1.71 ₱107

53.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$0.66 ₱41.36

228.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.12

$0.89 ₱56.1

-33.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱199

$2.83 ₱177

12.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱597

$7.53 ₱472

26.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.5

$0.96 ₱59.9

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$1.78 ₱112

13.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.25

$0.24 ₱14.94

95.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱806

$11.42 ₱716

12.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.26

$0.77 ₱48.23

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.44

$0.23 ₱14.45

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.5

$1.14 ₱71.3

11.40%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.9K ₱1.3M

2.86%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$18.9K ₱1.2M

3.97%

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

$122 ₱7,639

$140 ₱8,754

-12.75%

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

$15.16 ₱951

$14.52 ₱911

4.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,505

$24.57 ₱1,541

-2.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,673

$33.55 ₱2,104

27.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱357

$5.02 ₱315

13.35%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱432

$5.25 ₱329

31.05%

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

$618 ₱38.8K

$72.4 ₱4,540

753.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱555.9K

$2,458 ₱154.2K

260.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,658

$28.28 ₱1,774

106.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,751

$19.75 ₱1,238

41.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,881

$71.7 ₱4,500

8.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,667

$55.4 ₱3,475

5.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.2K

$268 ₱16.8K

102.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$169 ₱10.6K

68.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$504 ₱31.6K

282.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.2K

$300 ₱18.8K

124.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱275.8K

$2,930 ₱183.8K

50.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.5K

$1,061 ₱66.5K

138.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

$242 ₱15.2K

97.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.75

10.07%

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

Last update for Manila: September 12, 2026

Last update for San Juan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Manila versus $268 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 97% 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 $16.00 in San Juan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $171 – 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: $959 in Manila, $749 in San Juan – roughly 28% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,439 per month in Manila and $1,123 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 $959 in Manila and $749 in San Juan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% less in San Juan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in San Juan, where all-in costs run around $749, than in Manila at $959. 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 $749 in San Juan to $959 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.