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 $957 per month in Manila vs $822 in San Pedro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,543 per month in Manila vs $1,253 in San Pedro, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Manila vs $1,685 in San Pedro, rent included.

Manila costs about 16% 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 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.22 ₱315

$4.92 ₱296

6.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.52 ₱1,597

$21.67 ₱1,305

22.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 ₱264

$3.18 ₱192

37.74%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ₱164

$2.70 ₱162

0.74%

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

$0.93 ₱55.9

$0.96 ₱57.9

-3.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₱30.63

$0.37 ₱22.35

37.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱91.7

$1.22 ₱73.7

24.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ₱163

$2.59 ₱156

4.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₱117

$1.91 ₱115

2.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 ₱81.9

$1.22 ₱73.2

11.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱65.5

$1.05 ₱63.2

3.81%

Eggs

$2.10 ₱127

$1.95 ₱117

7.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 ₱570

$6.81 ₱410

38.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.24 ₱316

$4.32 ₱260

21.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.78 ₱529

$7.02 ₱423

25.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱205

$3.42 ₱206

-0.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₱106

$1.60 ₱96.2

10.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 ₱210

$2.89 ₱174

20.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₱145

$1.71 ₱103

40.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 ₱161

$2.74 ₱165

-2.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 ₱190

$3.17 ₱191

-0.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₱122

$1.57 ₱94.8

28.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱41.56

$0.68 ₱41.05

1.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱202

$3.25 ₱196

3.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.03 ₱604

$8.94 ₱538

12.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱87.9

$1.44 ₱86.8

1.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱129

$2.02 ₱122

5.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.03

$0.28 ₱16.96

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 ₱723

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱55.1

$0.77 ₱46.25

19.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.32

$0.24 ₱14.46

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₱131

$2.14 ₱129

1.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱69.6

$1.14 ₱68.9

1.75%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$25.3K ₱1.5M

6.27%

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

$23.1K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

14.30%

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

$134 ₱8,058

$135 ₱8,135

-0.95%

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

$22.30 ₱1,343

$21.69 ₱1,306

2.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 ₱1,622

$27.10 ₱1,632

-0.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.13 ₱2,537

$33.73 ₱2,031

24.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.77 ₱408

$4.38 ₱264

54.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.57 ₱395

$6.59 ₱397

-0.30%

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

$354 ₱21.3K

$81.7 ₱4,923

333.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱675.0K

$2,776 ₱167.2K

303.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.31 ₱2,849

$32.54 ₱1,960

45.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.90 ₱2,102

$29.10 ₱1,752

19.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.5 ₱4,966

$83.5 ₱5,027

-1.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.21 ₱2,783

$46.79 ₱2,818

-1.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.1K

$270 ₱16.2K

85.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.4K

$173 ₱10.4K

56.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,716 ₱103.3K

$593 ₱35.7K

189.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 ₱38.0K

$390 ₱23.5K

61.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,360 ₱262.6K

$2,393 ₱144.1K

82.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,599 ₱156.5K

$1,001 ₱60.3K

159.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$516 ₱31.1K

$310 ₱18.7K

66.46%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for San Pedro: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $270 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 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 $22.00 in San Pedro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $211 – 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: $957 in Manila, $822 in San Pedro – roughly 16% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,233 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 $957 in Manila and $822 in San Pedro. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $354 per month in Manila and $81.7 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 $822, than in Manila at $957. 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 $822 in San Pedro to $957 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.