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 $959 per month in Manila vs $738 in Santa Cruz, Laguna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,156 in Santa Cruz, Laguna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,574 in Santa Cruz, Laguna, rent included.

Manila costs about 30% more than Santa Cruz, Laguna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Santa Cruz, Laguna are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Santa Cruz, Laguna 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$1.80 ₱111

198.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$8.66 ₱534

209.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.05 ₱188

42.30%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.19 ₱135

25.57%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.43 ₱26.47

123.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.26 ₱15.85

92.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.27 ₱78.4

17.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.08 ₱66.7

141.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.81 ₱111

4.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.21 ₱74.5

14.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$1.07 ₱66.0

-1.87%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$1.74 ₱107

25.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$5.38 ₱332

78.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.31 ₱266

20.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.16 ₱442

16.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$1.57 ₱97.1

122.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$0.51 ₱31.34

252.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$1.56 ₱96.2

129.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.69 ₱104

47.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.86 ₱177

-3.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$4.16 ₱256

-27.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.56 ₱96.3

28.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$1.04 ₱64.2

-38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$3.18 ₱196

4.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$8.92 ₱550

9.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.54 ₱95.3

-3.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.98 ₱122

8.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.26 ₱15.84

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.77 ₱47.63

11.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.22 ₱13.53

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.19 ₱135

-1.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.09 ₱67.1

6.42%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$25.4K ₱1.6M

3.09%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

11.53%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$94.5 ₱5,826

46.39%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$33.54 ₱2,068

-33.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$29.99 ₱1,849

-7.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$34.24 ₱2,111

20.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.49 ₱277

53.45%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$6.91 ₱426

-4.78%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$81.2 ₱5,005

339.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$2,818 ₱173.7K

307.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$32.30 ₱1,992

43.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$29.26 ₱1,804

20.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$97.3 ₱5,998

-15.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$92.8 ₱5,719

-50.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$271 ₱16.7K

84.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$179 ₱11.0K

48.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$579 ₱35.7K

190.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$399 ₱24.6K

59.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,557 ₱157.7K

70.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$1,067 ₱65.8K

138.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz, Laguna: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $271 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 $27.00 in Manila versus $9.00 in Santa Cruz, Laguna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $191 – 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: $959 in Manila, $738 in Santa Cruz, Laguna – roughly 30% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $1,107 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 $959 in Manila and $738 in Santa Cruz, Laguna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $81.2 in Santa Cruz, Laguna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Santa Cruz, Laguna, where all-in costs run around $738, than in Manila at $959. 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 $738 in Santa Cruz, Laguna 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 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.