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 $968 per month in Manila vs $804 in San Pedro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Manila vs $1,252 in San Pedro, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,085 per month in Manila vs $1,700 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 27% lower, San Pedro 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱331

$4.76 ₱292

13.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,604

$21.65 ₱1,325

21.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱264

$3.04 ₱186

42.11%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱162

$2.72 ₱167

-2.57%

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

$0.96 ₱58.6

$0.90 ₱55.0

6.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.24

$0.34 ₱21.01

58.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.4

$1.22 ₱74.7

25.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱167

$2.71 ₱166

0.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱116

$1.98 ₱121

-4.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.5

$1.24 ₱76.0

7.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.6

$1.09 ₱66.4

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$1.95 ₱119

8.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱556

$6.95 ₱426

30.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱313

$4.18 ₱256

22.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱509

$7.07 ₱433

17.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱213

$3.39 ₱207

2.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱112

$1.59 ₱97.1

15.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$2.99 ₱183

22.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.71 ₱105

45.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$2.73 ₱167

-1.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱189

$3.06 ₱187

0.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$1.64 ₱101

21.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.73

$0.69 ₱42.53

1.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$3.17 ₱194

5.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱609

$9.03 ₱553

10.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.6

$1.44 ₱87.9

0.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.98 ₱121

8.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.48

$0.26 ₱15.71

96.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱738

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.1

$0.79 ₱48.25

10.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.66

$0.22 ₱13.40

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.10 ₱129

-0.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.0

$1.14 ₱70.0

-0.88%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$25.8K ₱1.6M

2.99%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

11.98%

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

$136 ₱8,317

$137 ₱8,386

-0.82%

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

$22.22 ₱1,360

$21.51 ₱1,317

3.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,690

$27.88 ₱1,707

-1.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,616

$34.40 ₱2,106

24.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱431

$4.48 ₱274

57.14%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱408

$6.86 ₱420

-2.77%

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

$363 ₱22.2K

$80.9 ₱4,954

348.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱694.8K

$2,809 ₱172.0K

304.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,875

$32.18 ₱1,970

45.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,122

$29.06 ₱1,779

19.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,084

$81.8 ₱5,009

1.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,830

$46.57 ₱2,851

-0.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱29.9K

$262 ₱16.1K

86.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.1K

$176 ₱10.8K

49.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.4K

$585 ₱35.8K

191.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.4K

$389 ₱23.8K

61.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱270.2K

$2,239 ₱137.0K

97.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱154.6K

$1,071 ₱65.5K

135.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.1K

$313 ₱19.2K

56.85%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for San Pedro: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Manila versus $262 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 57% 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 $22.00 in San Pedro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 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: $968 in Manila, $804 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 $1,452 per month in Manila and $1,207 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 $968 in Manila and $804 in San Pedro. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $80.9 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 $804, than in Manila at $968. 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 $804 in San Pedro 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 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.