Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Santa Cruz, Laguna Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Santa Cruz, Laguna

😐 Solo nomad: Manila is 20.3% more expensive than Santa Cruz, Laguna without rent, and 28% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Manila is 16.5% more expensive than Santa Cruz, Laguna without rent, and 36.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manila
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.25 β‚±292
$1.79 β‚±99.7
193.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.12 β‚±1,455
$9.05 β‚±504
188.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.48 β‚±250
$3.02 β‚±168
48.34%
Cappuccino
$2.67 β‚±148
$2.07 β‚±115
28.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 β‚±50.5
$0.42 β‚±23.55
116.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 β‚±29.61
$0.28 β‚±15.76
89.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.55 β‚±86.5
$1.27 β‚±70.7
22.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 β‚±149
$1.08 β‚±59.9
148.15%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Manila
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.9 β‚±106
$1.74 β‚±96.8
9.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.34 β‚±74.7
$1.26 β‚±70
6.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.09 β‚±60.6
$1.04 β‚±58.1
4.81%
Eggs
$2.15 β‚±120
$1.73 β‚±96.2
24.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.46 β‚±527
$5.41 β‚±301
74.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.32 β‚±296
$4.23 β‚±235
25.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 β‚±478
$7.08 β‚±394
21.33%
Apples (1kg)
$3.44 β‚±191
$1.56 β‚±87.1
120.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 β‚±101
$0.52 β‚±28.75
250.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.59 β‚±200
$1.62 β‚±90
121.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 β‚±134
$1.65 β‚±91.9
46.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 β‚±154
$2.75 β‚±153
0.73%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 β‚±169
$4.13 β‚±230
-26.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 β‚±108
$1.62 β‚±90.2
19.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 β‚±35.46
$1.05 β‚±58.3
-39.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44 β‚±192
$3.21 β‚±179
7.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.57 β‚±477
$7.84 β‚±437
9.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 β‚±84
$1.57 β‚±87.2
-3.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 β‚±118
$1.97 β‚±110
7.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Manila
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 β‚±26.9
$0.26 β‚±14.39
84.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.17 β‚±678
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.92 β‚±51.3
$0.81 β‚±45.31
13.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 β‚±15.08
$0.24 β‚±13.39
12.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.15 β‚±120
$2.07 β‚±116
3.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 β‚±65.3
$1.1 β‚±61.1
6.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27K β‚±1.5M
$25.3K β‚±1.4M
6.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23K β‚±1.3M
$20.8K β‚±1.2M
10.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manila
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 β‚±7,714
$97.6 β‚±5,434
41.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.08 β‚±1,229
$33.06 β‚±1,841
-33.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.22 β‚±1,516
$30.51 β‚±1,699
-10.78%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Manila
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.8 β‚±2,383
$34.57 β‚±1,925
23.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 β‚±384
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 β‚±368
$6.98 β‚±389
-5.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manila
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$364 β‚±20.2K
$81.9 β‚±4,562
343.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.2K β‚±623.1K
$2,807 β‚±156.3K
298.65%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Manila
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.95 β‚±2,558
$32.27 β‚±1,797
42.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.61 β‚±1,983
$29.78 β‚±1,658
19.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.5 β‚±4,648
$98.7 β‚±5,495
-15.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.92 β‚±2,612
$92.3 β‚±5,138
-49.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manila
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$503 β‚±28K
$262 β‚±14.6K
91.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$262 β‚±14.6K
$174 β‚±9,700
50.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,724 β‚±96K
$599 β‚±33.3K
187.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 β‚±34.6K
$398 β‚±22.2K
56.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,633 β‚±202.3K
$2,238 β‚±124.6K
62.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,336 β‚±130.1K
-
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Manila
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 β‚±27.4K
-
-
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Santa Cruz, Laguna: October 29, 2025

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