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 $542 in Valenzuela, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $909 in Valenzuela, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,277 in Valenzuela, rent included.

Manila costs about 77% more than Valenzuela, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Valenzuela are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Valenzuela 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$2.60 ₱161

106.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,655

$35.98 ₱2,219

-25.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱267

$1.73 ₱107

150.87%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$2.24 ₱138

22.77%

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

$0.96 ₱58.9

$0.87 ₱53.5

10.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.56

$0.28 ₱17.34

78.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.45 ₱89.7

2.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.36 ₱84.0

91.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.72 ₱106

9.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.3

$1.36 ₱84.1

1.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$0.78 ₱47.95

34.62%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$1.45 ₱89.5

50.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$8.24 ₱508

16.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$3.14 ₱194

65.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$6.56 ₱405

26.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$1.79 ₱111

95.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.08 ₱66.7

66.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$1.07 ₱66.0

234.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$1.39 ₱86.0

79.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$1.72 ₱106

60.47%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.72 ₱168

11.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$1.08 ₱66.3

86.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.57

$0.51 ₱31.36

25.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.80 ₱173

18.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$8.13 ₱501

19.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$0.67 ₱41.38

122.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$0.93 ₱57.6

131.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.91

$0.26 ₱15.86

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.73 ₱44.83

17.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.37

$0.11 ₱7.04

127.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.19 ₱135

-1.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.8

$1.17 ₱71.9

-0.85%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$13.1K ₱808.1K

99.93%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$14.1K ₱871.4K

60.78%

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

$138 ₱8,529

$73.1 ₱4,507

89.25%

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

$22.24 ₱1,371

$33.23 ₱2,049

-33.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,709

$26.31 ₱1,622

5.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$21.32 ₱1,315

94.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.37 ₱270

57.67%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$5.61 ₱346

17.29%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$37.58 ₱2,317

849.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.3K

$4,280 ₱263.9K

167.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

$45.20 ₱2,787

2.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,166

$8.70 ₱537

303.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,081

$54.0 ₱3,332

52.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,823

$43.97 ₱2,711

4.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$131 ₱8,092

280.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$60.8 ₱3,749

335.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.8K

$192 ₱11.8K

776.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$156 ₱9,648

306.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

$2,208 ₱136.1K

97.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

$1,037 ₱63.9K

145.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$556 ₱34.3K

-13.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

5.5

36.73%

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

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Last update for Valenzuela: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $131 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 16% 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 $36.00 in Valenzuela. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Manila vs $169 in Valenzuela – so Valenzuela wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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, $542 in Valenzuela – roughly 77% 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 $812 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 $542 in Valenzuela. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $37.58 in Valenzuela. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Valenzuela, where all-in costs run around $542, 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 $542 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.