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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $803 in San Pedro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,257 in San Pedro, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,710 in San Pedro, rent included.

Manila costs about 20% more than San Pedro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and San Pedro are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, San Pedro 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$4.80 ₱296

12.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$21.62 ₱1,333

23.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.07 ₱189

47.88%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$2.75 ₱169

-4.73%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.97 ₱59.9

1.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.37 ₱23.03

45.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.21 ₱74.3

22.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.61 ₱161

4.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.26 ₱77.9

11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$1.04 ₱64.3

-0.96%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.02 ₱124

2.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$7.15 ₱441

27.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$4.21 ₱260

23.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$7.24 ₱446

20.17%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.57 ₱96.9

15.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$2.89 ₱178

26.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.70 ₱105

48.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$2.83 ₱174

-0.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$3.02 ₱186

2.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$1.64 ₱101

21.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.64 ₱39.44

7.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$3.18 ₱196

8.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$8.88 ₱548

12.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.50 ₱92.7

-0.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.03 ₱125

7.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.26 ₱15.91

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.81 ₱50.3

14.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.22 ₱13.51

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.15 ₱71.0

-2.61%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$26.0K ₱1.6M

2.39%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

11.62%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$134 ₱8,247

0.72%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$22.18 ₱1,368

-0.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$26.96 ₱1,663

3.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$34.07 ₱2,101

23.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$4.35 ₱268

60.92%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$6.85 ₱423

-1.75%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$79.7 ₱4,918

358.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$2,789 ₱172.0K

314.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$32.43 ₱2,001

44.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$29.38 ₱1,812

19.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$81.8 ₱5,048

-0.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$46.87 ₱2,891

-1.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$267 ₱16.5K

83.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$176 ₱10.8K

53.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$594 ₱36.6K

184.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$395 ₱24.4K

59.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

$2,334 ₱144.0K

85.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$318 ₱19.6K

42.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

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

Last update for Manila: April 27, 2026

Last update for San Pedro: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $267 in San Pedro. 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 42% 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 $22.00 in San Pedro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $213 – making San Pedro 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 Pedro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $963 in Manila, $803 in San Pedro – 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 $1,204 in San Pedro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Pedro, 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 $803 in San Pedro. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $365 per month in Manila and $79.7 in San Pedro. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in San Pedro, where all-in costs run around $803, than in Manila at $963. In San Pedro 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 $803 in San Pedro 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 Pedro. 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.