Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Subic Bay Freeport Zone Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Subic Bay Freeport Zone

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $927 per month in Manila vs $664 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $1,002 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,341 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, rent included.

Manila costs about 40% more than Subic Bay Freeport Zone, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Subic Bay Freeport Zone are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Subic Bay Freeport Zone 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱322

$4.77 ₱298

8.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,613

$14.70 ₱917

75.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱245

$5.23 ₱326

-24.86%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱157

$2.21 ₱138

14.03%

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

$1.36 ₱84.6

$0.58 ₱36.28

134.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.8

$0.31 ₱19.62

167.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.4

$1.45 ₱90.6

-22.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱171

$2.02 ₱126

35.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱118

$1.71 ₱107

11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.1

$1.13 ₱70.3

26.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.1

$0.97 ₱60.3

1.03%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱139

$1.97 ₱123

13.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱498

$5.30 ₱330

50.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱292

$4.21 ₱263

11.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱424

$7.22 ₱451

-5.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱207

$2.32 ₱145

43.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$1.56 ₱97.5

17.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱186

$2.43 ₱151

22.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.18 ₱73.6

57.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱141

$2.11 ₱132

7.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱168

$1.96 ₱122

37.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$0.82 ₱51.2

156.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.65

$0.56 ₱35.00

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱200

$2.85 ₱178

12.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱599

$7.92 ₱494

21.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.6

$0.91 ₱57.0

45.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$2.03 ₱126

3.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱28.89

$0.22 ₱13.73

109.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱791

$11.31 ₱705

12.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.77 ₱47.82

7.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.39

$0.25 ₱15.66

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.87 ₱117

-0.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.1

$1.05 ₱65.2

18.10%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

-0.31%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

-1.85%

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

$122 ₱7,607

$137 ₱8,567

-11.20%

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

$14.83 ₱925

$15.12 ₱943

-1.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,494

$16.94 ₱1,057

41.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,648

$30.51 ₱1,903

39.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱361

$4.91 ₱306

17.92%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱429

$5.15 ₱321

33.59%

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

$621 ₱38.7K

$136 ₱8,451

358.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱552.8K

$8,091 ₱504.5K

9.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,586

$32.66 ₱2,037

76.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,749

$20.00 ₱1,247

40.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,840

$71.8 ₱4,475

8.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,609

$55.9 ₱3,485

3.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.3K

$127 ₱7,930

320.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱17.9K

$80.7 ₱5,029

255.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.2K

$328 ₱20.5K

487.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.4K

$195 ₱12.2K

240.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱271.6K

$2,551 ₱159.1K

70.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱159.3K

$1,059 ₱66.1K

141.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.75

10.07%

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

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Last update for Subic Bay Freeport Zone: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $127 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. 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 $15.00 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $180 – making Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 Subic Bay Freeport Zone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $927 in Manila, $664 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone – roughly 40% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,391 per month in Manila and $995 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, 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 $664 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 12% less in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, where all-in costs run around $664, than in Manila at $927. In Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 $664 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 Subic Bay Freeport Zone. 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.