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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $927 per month in Manila vs $635 in Santa Cruz, Laguna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $974 in Santa Cruz, Laguna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,313 in Santa Cruz, Laguna, rent included.

Manila costs about 46% more than Santa Cruz, Laguna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Santa Cruz, Laguna are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Santa Cruz, Laguna 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱322

$1.64 ₱102

214.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,613

$7.96 ₱497

224.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱245

$2.77 ₱173

41.88%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱157

$1.78 ₱111

41.57%

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

$1.36 ₱84.6

$0.42 ₱26.14

223.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.8

$0.23 ₱14.30

260.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.4

$1.03 ₱64.0

9.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱171

$0.93 ₱57.8

194.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱118

$1.64 ₱102

15.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.1

$1.12 ₱69.7

27.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.1

$0.94 ₱58.6

4.26%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱139

$1.56 ₱97.1

42.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱498

$4.75 ₱296

68.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱292

$3.49 ₱218

34.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱424

$7.29 ₱455

-6.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱207

$1.48 ₱92.4

124.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$0.50 ₱31.15

266.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱186

$1.47 ₱91.9

102.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.08 ₱67.2

72.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱141

$1.70 ₱106

32.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱168

$1.74 ₱109

55.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$0.63 ₱39.03

233.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.65

$0.53 ₱32.86

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱200

$2.98 ₱186

7.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱599

$8.65 ₱539

11.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.6

$0.93 ₱57.9

41.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$2.01 ₱126

4.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱28.89

$0.25 ₱15.51

84.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱791

$11.30 ₱705

12.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.79 ₱49.17

5.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.25 ₱15.59

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.90 ₱118

-2.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.1

$1.21 ₱75.6

2.48%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.1K ₱1.3M

1.34%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

0.75%

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

$122 ₱7,607

$87.6 ₱5,460

39.34%

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

$14.83 ₱925

$17.87 ₱1,114

-17.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,494

$23.16 ₱1,444

3.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,648

$32.24 ₱2,011

31.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱361

$4.72 ₱294

22.67%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱429

$5.34 ₱333

28.84%

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

$621 ₱38.7K

$132 ₱8,260

368.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱552.8K

$10.7K ₱668.8K

-17.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,586

$29.47 ₱1,838

95.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,749

$19.28 ₱1,202

45.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,840

$70.9 ₱4,419

9.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,609

$56.1 ₱3,499

3.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.3K

$273 ₱17.0K

95.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱17.9K

$175 ₱10.9K

64.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.2K

$500 ₱31.2K

285.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.4K

$355 ₱22.1K

87.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱271.6K

$2,640 ₱164.6K

65.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱159.3K

$1,024 ₱63.9K

149.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.5K

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 8, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz, Laguna: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $273 in Santa Cruz, Laguna. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Manila versus $8.00 in Santa Cruz, Laguna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $156 – making Santa Cruz, Laguna 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 Santa Cruz, Laguna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $927 in Manila, $635 in Santa Cruz, Laguna – roughly 46% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,391 per month in Manila and $953 in Santa Cruz, Laguna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santa Cruz, Laguna, 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 $927 in Manila and $635 in Santa Cruz, Laguna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 12% less in Santa Cruz, Laguna. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Santa Cruz, Laguna, where all-in costs run around $635, than in Manila at $927. In Santa Cruz, Laguna 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 $635 in Santa Cruz, Laguna to $927 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 Santa Cruz, Laguna. 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.