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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $684 in Valencia City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,060 in Valencia City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,436 in Valencia City, rent included.

Manila costs about 40% more than Valencia City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$2.96 ₱183

81.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$23.91 ₱1,474

12.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$1.78 ₱110

143.82%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$1.57 ₱96.5

75.16%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.40 ₱24.56

140.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.34 ₱20.90

47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.03 ₱63.6

44.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.57 ₱96.8

66.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.31 ₱80.6

44.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$0.64 ₱39.34

115.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.75 ₱46.36

40.00%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$1.63 ₱100

33.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$5.94 ₱366

61.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$2.16 ₱133

140.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$3.02 ₱186

175.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$1.72 ₱106

103.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.17 ₱72.3

53.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.28 ₱141

57.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$0.93 ₱57.3

167.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$0.84 ₱51.6

228.57%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.17 ₱134

39.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$0.42 ₱26.11

378.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.45 ₱27.82

42.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.65 ₱163

25.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$1.86 ₱115

423.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$0.78 ₱48.13

91.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.36 ₱83.6

58.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.28 ₱17.37

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.93 ₱57.1

-7.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.23 ₱14.07

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.18 ₱134

-0.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.09 ₱67.2

6.42%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$22.0K ₱1.4M

19.36%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$21.1K ₱1.3M

7.63%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$105 ₱6,470

31.82%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$33.47 ₱2,064

-33.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$36.28 ₱2,237

-23.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$34.42 ₱2,122

20.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.44 ₱274

55.18%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$4.30 ₱265

53.02%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$120 ₱7,407

197.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,379 ₱270.0K

161.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$46.12 ₱2,844

0.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$30.38 ₱1,873

15.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$77.1 ₱4,752

6.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$69.9 ₱4,310

-34.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$263 ₱16.2K

89.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$177 ₱10.9K

49.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$594 ₱36.6K

183.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$400 ₱24.7K

58.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,359 ₱145.4K

85.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$948 ₱58.4K

168.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

9.56

-21.34%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for Valencia City: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $263 in Valencia 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 $24.00 in Valencia City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $120 – making Valencia 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 Valencia City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $959 in Manila, $684 in Valencia City – roughly 40% 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 $1,027 in Valencia City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Valencia 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 $684 in Valencia 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 $120 in Valencia 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 Valencia City, where all-in costs run around $684, than in Manila at $959. In Valencia 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 $684 in Valencia 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 Valencia 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.