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 $959 per month in Manila vs $710 in San Pedro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,506 per month in Manila vs $1,068 in San Pedro, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,052 per month in Manila vs $1,425 in San Pedro, rent included.

Manila costs about 35% more than San Pedro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and San Pedro are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, San Pedro 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱341

$4.02 ₱252

35.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,667

$16.37 ₱1,029

62.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$2.87 ₱180

36.59%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱158

$1.79 ₱113

40.22%

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

$1.39 ₱87.1

$0.56 ₱35.31

148.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.4

$0.34 ₱21.08

144.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.2

$0.98 ₱61.4

18.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.56 ₱98.2

75.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.67 ₱105

13.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.9

$1.15 ₱72.1

21.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱62.1

$0.94 ₱59.3

5.32%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$2.01 ₱126

14.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱491

$4.99 ₱314

56.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱310

$3.43 ₱215

43.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱447

$6.80 ₱427

4.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$2.31 ₱145

39.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.61 ₱101

17.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.38 ₱149

26.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱115

$1.02 ₱64.0

78.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$1.73 ₱109

28.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱165

$1.72 ₱108

52.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$0.62 ₱39.15

250.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.18

$0.49 ₱30.85

20.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱200

$2.96 ₱186

7.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱598

$8.82 ₱554

7.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.6

$0.99 ₱61.9

29.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$2.09 ₱131

-3.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.30

$0.22 ₱13.94

113.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱807

$11.91 ₱749

7.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.34

$0.82 ₱51.4

-6.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.47

$0.21 ₱13.15

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.7

$1.20 ₱75.2

5.83%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₱1.4M

-0.51%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$18.8K ₱1.2M

4.32%

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

$122 ₱7,651

$124 ₱7,801

-1.92%

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

$15.16 ₱952

$15.32 ₱963

-1.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,508

$23.32 ₱1,465

2.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,677

$28.65 ₱1,800

48.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱358

$5.22 ₱328

9.00%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱433

$5.05 ₱318

36.24%

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

$618 ₱38.8K

$133 ₱8,347

365.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱556.9K

$8,826 ₱554.5K

0.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,665

$28.74 ₱1,806

102.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,754

$19.14 ₱1,203

45.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,889

$72.8 ₱4,571

6.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,674

$56.1 ₱3,526

4.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.2K

$260 ₱16.3K

109.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$181 ₱11.4K

57.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱121.1K

$445 ₱27.9K

333.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.3K

$313 ₱19.7K

114.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱276.2K

$2,714 ₱170.5K

62.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.8K

$1,144 ₱71.9K

120.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

$306 ₱19.2K

55.69%

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 12, 2026

Last update for San Pedro: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Manila versus $260 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 56% 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 $16.00 in San Pedro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $172 – 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: $959 in Manila, $710 in San Pedro – roughly 35% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,439 per month in Manila and $1,065 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 $959 in Manila and $710 in San Pedro. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 8% less in San Pedro. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in San Pedro, where all-in costs run around $710, than in Manila at $959. 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 $710 in San Pedro 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 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.