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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $927 per month in Manila vs $646 in San Pablo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $918 in San Pablo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,190 in San Pablo, rent included.

Manila costs about 44% more than San Pablo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and San Pablo are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, San Pablo 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱324

$4.11 ₱257

25.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,621

$16.79 ₱1,053

54.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱246

$2.75 ₱173

42.91%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱158

$1.78 ₱112

41.57%

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

$1.36 ₱85.1

$0.42 ₱26.32

223.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.21 ₱12.92

295.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.8

$0.99 ₱62.0

14.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.61 ₱101

70.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱119

$1.63 ₱102

16.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.6

$1.15 ₱71.9

24.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$0.93 ₱58.5

5.38%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱140

$2.08 ₱130

7.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱501

$5.13 ₱322

55.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱294

$3.46 ₱217

35.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱427

$7.45 ₱467

-8.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱208

$2.24 ₱141

48.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$1.43 ₱89.4

27.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱187

$1.57 ₱98.7

89.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.07 ₱66.9

73.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱142

$1.62 ₱102

39.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱169

$1.76 ₱110

53.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$0.62 ₱39.13

238.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.83

$0.52 ₱32.65

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱201

$2.89 ₱181

10.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱602

$6.41 ₱402

49.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱83.0

$0.97 ₱60.5

36.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱132

$1.98 ₱124

6.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱29.04

$0.23 ₱14.35

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.79 ₱49.27

5.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.47

$0.23 ₱14.30

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱117

$1.87 ₱117

-0.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.6

$0.93 ₱58.6

33.33%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

1.47%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$18.9K ₱1.2M

2.14%

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

$122 ₱7,647

$139 ₱8,737

-12.46%

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

$14.83 ₱930

$17.53 ₱1,099

-15.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,502

$23.20 ₱1,454

3.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,662

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱363

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱431

$5.20 ₱326

32.31%

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

$621 ₱38.9K

$134 ₱8,417

362.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱555.8K

$10.6K ₱662.1K

-16.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,604

$28.43 ₱1,782

102.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,758

$19.36 ₱1,214

44.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,866

$71.9 ₱4,504

8.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,628

$55.1 ₱3,451

5.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.5K

$142 ₱8,883

277.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱18.0K

$128 ₱8,031

123.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$205 ₱12.9K

840.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.6K

$192 ₱12.1K

245.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱273.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱160.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.7K

$282 ₱17.7K

67.58%

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 8, 2026

Last update for San Pablo: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $142 in San Pablo. 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 68% 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 $17.00 in San Pablo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $165 – making San Pablo 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 Pablo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $927 in Manila, $646 in San Pablo – roughly 44% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,391 per month in Manila and $969 in San Pablo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Pablo, 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 $927 in Manila and $646 in San Pablo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $621 per month in Manila and $134 in San Pablo. 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 Pablo, where all-in costs run around $646, than in Manila at $927. In San Pablo 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 $646 in San Pablo to $927 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 Pablo. 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.