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 $957 per month in Manila vs $680 in Valencia City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,061 in Valencia City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $1,442 in Valencia City, rent included.

Manila costs about 41% 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

$5.28 ₱325

$3.00 ₱185

76.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$24.19 ₱1,489

12.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$1.79 ₱111

154.19%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$1.57 ₱96.4

73.89%

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

$0.96 ₱59.2

$0.40 ₱24.49

140.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.34 ₱20.81

47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.04 ₱64.1

48.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$1.57 ₱96.4

68.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.29 ₱79.5

47.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$0.61 ₱37.32

118.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$0.81 ₱50.1

32.10%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$1.55 ₱95.7

34.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$6.17 ₱380

50.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$2.08 ₱128

150.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱526

$3.11 ₱192

174.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$1.79 ₱110

97.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.19 ₱73.5

51.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.27 ₱140

57.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$0.99 ₱61.2

152.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$0.79 ₱48.34

251.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$2.12 ₱130

49.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$0.46 ₱28.40

330.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.46 ₱28.35

47.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.64 ₱162

25.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$1.86 ₱115

410.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$0.78 ₱48.14

87.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$1.30 ₱80.2

62.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.26 ₱15.79

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.93 ₱57.4

-5.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.23 ₱14.13

17.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.11 ₱130

-1.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.11 ₱68.3

5.41%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$21.8K ₱1.3M

19.53%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$21.1K ₱1.3M

8.25%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$105 ₱6,462

29.02%

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

$21.56 ₱1,327

$33.15 ₱2,041

-34.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$35.64 ₱2,194

-22.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$33.43 ₱2,058

23.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.31 ₱266

58.24%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$4.49 ₱277

54.12%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$121 ₱7,433

200.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$4,304 ₱265.0K

169.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$45.41 ₱2,795

3.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$29.58 ₱1,821

16.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$77.6 ₱4,780

5.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$69.6 ₱4,285

-31.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$268 ₱16.5K

81.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$177 ₱10.9K

53.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$596 ₱36.7K

190.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$395 ₱24.3K

62.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$2,442 ₱150.4K

77.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$987 ₱60.8K

163.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Valencia City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Manila versus $268 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: $241 vs $121 – 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: $957 in Manila, $680 in Valencia City – roughly 41% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,021 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 $957 in Manila and $680 in Valencia City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $121 in Valencia City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Manila and $680 in Valencia City, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $680 in Valencia City to $957 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.