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 $957 per month in Manila vs $749 in Santa Rosa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,146 in Santa Rosa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 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

$5.28 ₱325

$2.76 ₱170

91.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,672

$21.63 ₱1,334

25.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱281

$3.03 ₱187

50.17%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱169

$1.26 ₱78.0

116.67%

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

$0.96 ₱59.4

$0.40 ₱24.94

140.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱31.01

$0.28 ₱17.42

78.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.9

$1.27 ₱78.3

21.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$1.41 ₱86.7

87.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$2.09 ₱129

-9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱82.1

$1.21 ₱74.6

9.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.2

$1.12 ₱69.1

-4.46%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$1.80 ₱111

15.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱573

$6.93 ₱427

33.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$4.20 ₱259

24.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱527

$7.16 ₱442

19.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$4.47 ₱276

-20.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$0.92 ₱56.8

95.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.92 ₱180

22.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.64 ₱101

52.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$2.86 ₱177

-2.80%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱195

$4.08 ₱252

-22.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.59 ₱98.0

24.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.24

$1.01 ₱62.5

-32.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$3.20 ₱198

3.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱586

$9.00 ₱555

5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.2

$1.54 ₱95.2

-5.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.99 ₱123

6.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.46

$0.26 ₱16.03

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱749

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.1

$0.78 ₱48.32

12.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.68

$0.24 ₱14.84

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.11 ₱130

-1.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.4

$1.09 ₱67.2

7.34%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$25.8K ₱1.6M

0.91%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

10.91%

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

$135 ₱8,351

$52.5 ₱3,235

158.14%

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

$21.56 ₱1,330

$33.43 ₱2,062

-35.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,701

$28.79 ₱1,776

-4.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$33.44 ₱2,062

23.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.45 ₱275

53.26%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱427

$7.17 ₱442

-3.49%

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

$363 ₱22.4K

$81.2 ₱5,008

347.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱714.6K

$2,799 ₱172.6K

313.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,905

$32.18 ₱1,984

46.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,121

$29.83 ₱1,839

15.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,049

$98.6 ₱6,078

-16.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,924

$93.0 ₱5,738

-49.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$252 ₱15.5K

92.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$174 ₱10.7K

56.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.6K

$397 ₱24.5K

335.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$281 ₱17.3K

127.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱267.2K

$2,551 ₱157.3K

69.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.5K

$969 ₱59.7K

168.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.8K

$148 ₱9,112

215.96%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Santa Rosa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Manila versus $252 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 216% 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 $22.00 in Santa Rosa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 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: $957 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 $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,124 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 $957 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 $363 per month in Manila and $81.2 in Santa Rosa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Manila and $749 in Santa Rosa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $749 in Santa Rosa to $957 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.