Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Valenzuela Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Valenzuela

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $756 in Valenzuela, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,506 per month in Manila vs $1,136 in Valenzuela, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,052 per month in Manila vs $1,515 in Valenzuela, rent included.

Manila costs about 27% more than Valenzuela, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Valenzuela are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, Valenzuela 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱340

$3.91 ₱245

38.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,663

$16.66 ₱1,044

59.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$2.85 ₱178

37.54%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱157

$2.04 ₱128

23.04%

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

$1.39 ₱86.9

$0.59 ₱37.17

135.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.30 ₱19.06

176.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.0

$1.29 ₱81.0

-10.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.56 ₱98.0

75.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.61 ₱101

17.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.7

$1.16 ₱72.5

20.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱61.9

$1.03 ₱64.8

-3.88%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$2.01 ₱126

14.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱489

$5.07 ₱317

54.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱309

$3.31 ₱208

48.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱446

$6.82 ₱427

4.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$2.36 ₱148

36.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.55 ₱96.8

21.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.32 ₱145

29.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱114

$1.03 ₱64.6

76.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$1.67 ₱104

32.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱164

$1.70 ₱107

54.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$0.63 ₱39.31

244.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.08

$0.56 ₱34.81

5.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱199

$2.67 ₱167

19.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱597

$7.83 ₱491

21.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.4

$0.92 ₱57.8

39.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$1.97 ₱124

2.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.22

$0.23 ₱14.43

104.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱805

$11.26 ₱706

14.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.21

$0.61 ₱38.41

26.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.23 ₱14.44

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

$1.86 ₱116

5.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.5

$1.19 ₱74.3

6.72%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.9K ₱1.3M

2.78%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

2.45%

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

$122 ₱7,632

$143 ₱8,934

-14.57%

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

$15.16 ₱950

$16.21 ₱1,016

-6.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,504

$31.54 ₱1,977

-23.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,670

$32.28 ₱2,023

32.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱357

$4.07 ₱255

39.80%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱431

$6.33 ₱396

8.69%

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

$618 ₱38.7K

$131 ₱8,214

371.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱555.4K

$7,356 ₱461.0K

20.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,655

$28.51 ₱1,787

104.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,749

$19.41 ₱1,216

43.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,877

$72.9 ₱4,570

6.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,664

$55.1 ₱3,452

6.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.1K

$249 ₱15.6K

119.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$145 ₱9,117

95.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.8K

$527 ₱33.0K

265.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.2K

$397 ₱24.9K

69.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱275.5K

$2,318 ₱145.2K

89.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.4K

$1,102 ₱69.0K

129.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

$579 ₱36.3K

-17.68%

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 12, 2026

Last update for Valenzuela: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Manila versus $249 in Valenzuela. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Valenzuela, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $17.00 in Valenzuela. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $169 – making Valenzuela 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 Valenzuela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $959 in Manila, $756 in Valenzuela – roughly 27% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,439 per month in Manila and $1,134 in Valenzuela. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Valenzuela, 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 $756 in Valenzuela. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

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

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Valenzuela, where all-in costs run around $756, than in Manila at $959. In Valenzuela 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 $756 in Valenzuela 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 Valenzuela. 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.