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 $927 per month in Manila vs $870 in Santiago City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $1,357 in Santiago City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,844 in Santiago City, rent included.

Manila costs about 7% more than Santiago City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Santiago City are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Santiago City 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱322

$6.39 ₱398

-19.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,613

$39.81 ₱2,483

-35.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱245

$4.56 ₱284

-13.82%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱157

$2.65 ₱165

-4.91%

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

$1.36 ₱84.6

$1.12 ₱70.0

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.8

$0.49 ₱30.37

69.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.4

$2.34 ₱146

-51.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱171

$3.14 ₱196

-12.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱118

$1.83 ₱114

3.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.1

$1.30 ₱81.1

10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.1

$1.06 ₱66.3

-7.55%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱139

$1.43 ₱89.3

55.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱498

$7.27 ₱453

9.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱292

$4.82 ₱301

-2.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱424

$6.95 ₱433

-2.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱207

$2.33 ₱145

42.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$1.98 ₱123

-7.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱186

$3.29 ₱205

-9.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$2.30 ₱143

-19.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱141

$3.48 ₱217

-35.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱168

$3.59 ₱224

-24.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$1.07 ₱67.0

96.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.65

$0.53 ₱32.83

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱200

$2.59 ₱162

23.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱599

$7.98 ₱498

20.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.6

$1.38 ₱85.9

-4.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$2.07 ₱129

1.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱28.89

$0.27 ₱16.91

70.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱791

$11.15 ₱695

13.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.66 ₱41.45

25.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.23 ₱14.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.96 ₱122

-5.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.1

$1.24 ₱77.6

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.6K ₱1.3M

-1.13%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$19.8K ₱1.2M

-2.37%

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

$122 ₱7,607

$153 ₱9,540

-20.26%

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

$14.83 ₱925

$16.42 ₱1,024

-9.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,494

$31.65 ₱1,973

-24.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,648

$32.63 ₱2,035

30.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱361

$4.83 ₱301

19.88%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱429

$7.07 ₱441

-2.69%

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

$621 ₱38.7K

$135 ₱8,394

361.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱552.8K

$7,574 ₱472.3K

17.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,586

$32.56 ₱2,030

76.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,749

$19.82 ₱1,236

41.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,840

$80.9 ₱5,044

-4.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,609

$56.4 ₱3,516

2.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.3K

$266 ₱16.6K

101.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱17.9K

$175 ₱10.9K

63.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.2K

$505 ₱31.5K

281.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.4K

$354 ₱22.1K

87.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱271.6K

$2,628 ₱163.9K

65.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱159.3K

$1,058 ₱66.0K

141.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

7.5

-0.93%

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

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Last update for Santiago City: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $266 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $40.00 in Santiago City. Groceries tell a different story – $220 in Manila vs $212 in Santiago City – so Santiago City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $927 in Manila, $870 in Santiago City – roughly 7% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,391 per month in Manila and $1,304 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 $927 in Manila and $870 in Santiago City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 14% less in Santiago City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Santiago City, where all-in costs run around $870, than in Manila at $927. 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 $870 in Santiago City to $927 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.