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

😐 Solo nomad: Manila is 11.8% more expensive than Santa Cruz, Laguna without rent, and 30.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Manila is 16.8% more expensive than Santa Cruz, Laguna without rent, and 35.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.37 ₱322

$1.74 ₱104

208.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.02 ₱1,619

$8.72 ₱522

209.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.46 ₱267

$3.05 ₱183

46.23%

Cappuccino

$2.64 ₱158

$2.09 ₱125

26.32%

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

$0.92 ₱55.1

$0.43 ₱25.50

113.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱29.79

$0.28 ₱16.96

78.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 ₱92.7

$1.21 ₱72.8

28.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱163

$1.08 ₱64.7

152.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₱113

$1.75 ₱105

7.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱83.8

$1.20 ₱72.1

16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.0

$1.07 ₱64.4

0.93%

Eggs

$2.06 ₱124

$1.65 ₱99.1

24.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.50 ₱569

$5.16 ₱309

84.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱312

$4.20 ₱252

23.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.66 ₱519

$7.24 ₱434

19.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.51 ₱210

$1.57 ₱93.9

123.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 ₱103

$0.52 ₱30.90

232.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.49 ₱209

$1.58 ₱94.8

120.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱149

$1.65 ₱98.6

50.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.83 ₱169

$2.85 ₱171

-0.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱185

$4.23 ₱253

-26.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 ₱117

$1.63 ₱97.4

20.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱41.21

$1.02 ₱60.9

-32.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱206

$3.23 ₱193

6.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.02 ₱601

$9.19 ₱551

9.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱86.9

$1.59 ₱95.4

-8.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₱133

$1.97 ₱118

12.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱28.77

$0.26 ₱15.43

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 ₱714

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₱51.0

$0.83 ₱49.88

2.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱14.98

$0.24 ₱14.41

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱129

$2.08 ₱124

3.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱67.2

$1.11 ₱66.4

0.90%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

-0.18%

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

$22.4K ₱1.3M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

10.60%

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

$135 ₱8,074

$96.3 ₱5,769

39.96%

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

$21.66 ₱1,298

$33.02 ₱1,978

-34.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.09 ₱1,623

$29.42 ₱1,763

-7.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.91 ₱2,511

$34.33 ₱2,057

22.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱409

$4.30 ₱258

58.60%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱412

$7.12 ₱426

-3.37%

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

$363 ₱21.7K

$80.6 ₱4,827

349.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱688.8K

$2,764 ₱165.6K

315.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.72 ₱2,739

$32.10 ₱1,923

42.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.42 ₱2,062

$30.04 ₱1,799

14.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.2 ₱4,863

$99.2 ₱5,941

-18.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.98 ₱2,815

$92.3 ₱5,529

-49.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$503 ₱30.1K

$262 ₱15.7K

91.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.2K

$174 ₱10.4K

55.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,689 ₱101.2K

$599 ₱35.9K

182.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 ₱37.8K

$395 ₱23.7K

59.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,403 ₱263.8K

$2,207 ₱132.2K

99.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,636 ₱157.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$453 ₱27.1K

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz, Laguna: April 12, 2026

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

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