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 $959 per month in Manila vs $846 in San Pablo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,261 in San Pablo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,675 in San Pablo, rent included.

Manila costs about 13% more than San Pablo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and San Pablo are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, San Pablo 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$4.92 ₱304

9.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,656

$14.03 ₱866

91.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱268

$3.15 ₱194

37.78%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.86 ₱176

-3.85%

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

$0.96 ₱59.0

$0.46 ₱28.20

108.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.28 ₱17.31

78.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$0.69 ₱42.72

115.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.09 ₱129

24.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱117

$1.73 ₱107

9.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.4

$0.89 ₱54.9

55.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.68 ₱41.86

54.41%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.02 ₱124

7.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$5.12 ₱316

87.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$3.81 ₱235

36.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.28 ₱449

14.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$4.36 ₱269

-19.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.03 ₱63.7

74.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.24 ₱139

59.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.72 ₱106

44.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$1.45 ₱89.3

90.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$1.03 ₱63.6

194.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$0.88 ₱54.2

128.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.60

$0.64 ₱39.67

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.55 ₱158

30.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$6.60 ₱407

47.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.18 ₱72.9

26.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$2.02 ₱125

6.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.93

$0.28 ₱17.37

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱741

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.77 ₱47.73

11.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.38

$0.24 ₱14.89

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.10 ₱130

2.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.9

$1.09 ₱67.3

6.42%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$25.9K ₱1.6M

1.05%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

10.63%

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

$138 ₱8,535

$162 ₱9,967

-14.37%

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

$22.24 ₱1,372

$33.55 ₱2,070

-33.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,710

$30.44 ₱1,878

-8.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,555

$34.19 ₱2,110

21.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$7.18 ₱443

-8.36%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$82.4 ₱5,087

332.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.8K

$2,784 ₱171.8K

312.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,864

$17.32 ₱1,069

168.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,167

$29.70 ₱1,832

18.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,084

$97.3 ₱6,004

-15.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,825

$92.9 ₱5,732

-50.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$126 ₱7,774

296.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$180 ₱11.1K

47.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.9K

$577 ₱35.6K

191.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$397 ₱24.5K

59.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱157.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$290 ₱17.9K

65.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

8.13

-7.50%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for San Pablo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $126 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 66% 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 $14.00 in San Pablo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $180 – 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: $959 in Manila, $846 in San Pablo – roughly 13% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $1,269 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 $959 in Manila and $846 in San Pablo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $82.4 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 $846, than in Manila at $959. 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 $846 in San Pablo 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 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.