Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Santiago City Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Santiago City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $676 in Santiago City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,048 in Santiago City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $1,419 in Santiago City, rent included.

Manila costs about 42% more than Santiago City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Santiago City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Santiago City 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$6.68 ₱411

-20.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$13.14 ₱809

106.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$3.56 ₱219

27.81%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$0.87 ₱53.8

213.79%

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

$0.96 ₱59.2

$0.77 ₱47.30

24.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.33 ₱20.36

51.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.04 ₱63.9

48.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$1.81 ₱111

46.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.62 ₱100

17.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$1.23 ₱75.5

8.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$0.82 ₱50.7

30.49%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$1.52 ₱93.4

36.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$2.50 ₱154

271.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$3.10 ₱191

68.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱526

$5.34 ₱329

60.11%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$2.71 ₱167

30.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.02 ₱63.1

76.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$0.73 ₱45.14

390.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.42 ₱87.6

76.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$3.42 ₱211

-18.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$1.09 ₱67.3

189.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$0.75 ₱46.08

164.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.93 ₱57.4

-26.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.23 ₱138

48.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$7.95 ₱490

19.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.03 ₱63.7

41.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.70 ₱104

24.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.26 ₱15.84

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.79 ₱48.47

11.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.13 ₱8.07

107.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$3.50 ₱215

-40.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.15 ₱70.9

1.74%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$22.2K ₱1.4M

17.25%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$17.2K ₱1.1M

33.08%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$75.8 ₱4,668

78.61%

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

$21.56 ₱1,327

$26.94 ₱1,659

-19.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$22.95 ₱1,413

20.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$33.52 ₱2,063

23.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.51 ₱277

51.22%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$5.17 ₱318

33.85%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$88.9 ₱5,471

308.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$4,283 ₱263.7K

170.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$41.93 ₱2,581

12.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$23.78 ₱1,464

44.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$53.1 ₱3,270

54.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$39.75 ₱2,447

19.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$268 ₱16.5K

81.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$173 ₱10.7K

56.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$592 ₱36.5K

192.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$397 ₱24.4K

61.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$2,518 ₱155.0K

72.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$867 ₱53.3K

200.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.67

12.74%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Manila: July 11, 2026

Last update for Santiago City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Manila versus $268 in Santiago City. 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 $13.00 in Santiago City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $158 – making Santiago City 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 Santiago City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $957 in Manila, $676 in Santiago City – roughly 42% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,014 in Santiago City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santiago City, 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 $676 in Santiago City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $88.9 in Santiago City. 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 $676 in Santiago City, 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 $676 in Santiago City 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 Santiago City. 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.