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 $959 per month in Manila vs $660 in Santiago City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,043 in Santiago City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,426 in Santiago City, rent included.

Manila costs about 45% 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 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$6.46 ₱399

-16.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$13.04 ₱804

105.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.57 ₱220

21.57%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$0.93 ₱57.3

195.70%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.77 ₱47.33

24.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.33 ₱20.42

51.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.09 ₱66.9

36.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.72 ₱106

51.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.58 ₱97.6

19.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.27 ₱78.5

8.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.77 ₱47.71

36.36%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$1.52 ₱93.5

43.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$2.51 ₱155

282.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$3.28 ₱202

58.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$5.60 ₱345

48.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.65 ₱164

32.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.04 ₱63.9

73.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$0.70 ₱43.00

411.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.42 ₱87.8

75.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$3.45 ₱213

-20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$1.09 ₱67.4

177.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$0.82 ₱50.3

145.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$1.00 ₱61.6

-36.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.28 ₱141

45.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$3.79 ₱233

156.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.08 ₱66.7

37.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.73 ₱106

24.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.26 ₱15.94

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.83 ₱51.4

3.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.14 ₱8.42

78.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$3.51 ₱216

-38.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.09 ₱67.3

6.42%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$22.4K ₱1.4M

16.94%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$17.6K ₱1.1M

29.39%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$75.2 ₱4,637

83.91%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$26.73 ₱1,648

-16.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$22.70 ₱1,400

22.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$33.61 ₱2,072

23.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.55 ₱281

51.43%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$5.40 ₱333

21.85%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$88.8 ₱5,472

302.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,353 ₱268.4K

163.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$42.33 ₱2,610

9.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$23.73 ₱1,464

48.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$53.3 ₱3,287

54.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$40.02 ₱2,468

14.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$262 ₱16.1K

90.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$178 ₱11.0K

48.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$597 ₱36.8K

182.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$400 ₱24.6K

59.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,351 ₱145.0K

85.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$962 ₱59.3K

164.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$218 ₱13.5K

120.31%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Santiago City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $262 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.

Salaries run about 120% 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 $13.00 in Santiago City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $152 – 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: $959 in Manila, $660 in Santiago City – roughly 45% 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 $989 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 $959 in Manila and $660 in Santiago City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $88.8 in Santiago City. 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 Santiago City, where all-in costs run around $660, than in Manila at $959. In Santiago City 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 $660 in Santiago City 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 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.