Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Santa Rosa Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Santa Rosa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $749 in Santa Rosa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,146 in Santa Rosa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,543 in Santa Rosa, rent included.

Manila costs about 28% more than Santa Rosa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Santa Rosa are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Santa Rosa 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$2.79 ₱172

92.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$20.91 ₱1,289

28.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.07 ₱189

41.37%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$1.21 ₱74.4

127.27%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.37 ₱23.03

159.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.28 ₱17.30

78.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.22 ₱75.5

22.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.46 ₱89.7

78.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$2.15 ₱133

-12.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.26 ₱77.4

9.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$1.11 ₱68.4

-5.41%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$1.80 ₱111

21.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$6.94 ₱428

38.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.17 ₱257

24.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$7.20 ₱444

15.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$4.35 ₱268

-19.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$0.87 ₱53.6

106.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.91 ₱179

23.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.65 ₱102

50.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$2.80 ₱172

-1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$4.19 ₱258

-27.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.56 ₱96.3

28.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$1.01 ₱62.4

-36.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$3.15 ₱195

5.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$9.16 ₱565

6.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.62 ₱100.0

-8.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$2.02 ₱125

6.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.26 ₱15.90

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.78 ₱48.23

10.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.24 ₱14.86

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.10 ₱129

2.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.09 ₱67.2

6.42%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$25.9K ₱1.6M

1.11%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

10.10%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$53.5 ₱3,300

158.45%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$33.33 ₱2,056

-33.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$28.40 ₱1,751

-2.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$33.49 ₱2,065

23.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.31 ₱265

59.86%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$6.92 ₱427

-4.91%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$81.0 ₱4,995

340.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$2,795 ₱172.4K

310.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$32.25 ₱1,989

43.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$29.79 ₱1,837

17.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$96.3 ₱5,939

-14.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$92.1 ₱5,680

-50.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$243 ₱15.0K

105.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$174 ₱10.7K

51.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$402 ₱24.8K

318.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$281 ₱17.3K

126.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,285 ₱140.9K

91.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$946 ₱58.3K

168.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$145 ₱8,945

231.54%

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 Rosa: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $243 in Santa Rosa. 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 232% 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 $21.00 in Santa Rosa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $221 – making Santa Rosa 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 Rosa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $959 in Manila, $749 in Santa Rosa – roughly 28% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $1,123 in Santa Rosa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santa Rosa, 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 $749 in Santa Rosa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $81.0 in Santa Rosa. 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 Rosa, where all-in costs run around $749, than in Manila at $959. In Santa Rosa 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 $749 in Santa Rosa 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 Rosa. 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.