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 $959 per month in Manila vs $755 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,282 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,809 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, rent included.

Manila costs about 27% more than Subic Bay Freeport Zone, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Manila and Subic Bay Freeport Zone are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Subic Bay Freeport Zone 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$4.53 ₱279

18.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$16.23 ₱1,001

65.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$3.65 ₱225

18.90%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.54 ₱157

8.27%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.85 ₱52.5

12.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.45 ₱27.91

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.49 ₱91.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.36 ₱146

10.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.80 ₱111

5.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.51 ₱93.3

-8.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.95 ₱58.6

10.53%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$2.07 ₱128

5.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$8.14 ₱502

18.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$5.20 ₱321

-0.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$13.83 ₱853

-39.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$2.95 ₱182

18.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.76 ₱109

2.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$1.43 ₱88.0

150.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.14 ₱70.5

118.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$1.73 ₱107

59.54%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$1.43 ₱88.1

111.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.07 ₱65.7

87.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.83 ₱51.0

-22.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.50 ₱154

32.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$7.84 ₱484

24.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$0.83 ₱51.4

79.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$2.29 ₱141

-6.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.22 ₱13.50

136.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

$18.12 ₱1,117

-33.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.73 ₱45.08

17.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.27 ₱16.67

-7.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.10 ₱129

2.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.11 ₱68.3

4.50%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$27.9K ₱1.7M

-6.02%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$17.4K ₱1.1M

30.56%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$129 ₱7,980

6.89%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$10.92 ₱673

103.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$18.27 ₱1,127

51.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$31.14 ₱1,920

32.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.55 ₱281

51.43%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$7.54 ₱465

-12.73%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$150 ₱9,227

138.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,384 ₱270.3K

161.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$45.58 ₱2,811

1.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$34.62 ₱2,135

1.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$67.5 ₱4,163

22.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$116 ₱7,137

-60.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$141 ₱8,710

253.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$88.0 ₱5,424

200.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$366 ₱22.6K

359.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$472 ₱29.1K

34.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,350 ₱144.9K

85.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$1,066 ₱65.8K

138.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.17

21.88%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for Subic Bay Freeport Zone: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $141 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 $27.00 in Manila versus $16.00 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $221 – 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: $959 in Manila, $755 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone – roughly 27% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $1,132 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 $959 in Manila and $755 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 51% 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 $755, than in Manila at $959. 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 $755 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 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.