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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $539 in Valenzuela, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $908 in Valenzuela, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $1,277 in Valenzuela, rent included.

Manila costs about 78% 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

$5.28 ₱325

$2.59 ₱160

103.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$34.81 ₱2,143

-22.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$1.80 ₱111

152.78%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$2.26 ₱139

20.80%

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

$0.96 ₱59.2

$0.88 ₱54.3

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.28 ₱17.32

78.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.46 ₱89.8

5.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$1.31 ₱80.4

102.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.71 ₱105

11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$1.40 ₱86.3

-5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$0.77 ₱47.16

38.96%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$1.47 ₱90.7

41.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$8.22 ₱506

12.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$3.15 ₱194

65.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱526

$6.80 ₱419

25.74%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$1.79 ₱110

97.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.07 ₱65.9

68.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$1.03 ₱63.6

247.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.39 ₱85.7

79.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$1.68 ₱104

65.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$2.63 ₱162

20.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.09 ₱67.0

81.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.50 ₱31.06

36.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.82 ₱173

17.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$7.95 ₱490

19.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$0.66 ₱40.86

121.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$0.99 ₱60.8

113.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.26 ₱15.87

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$0.68 ₱41.73

29.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$0.12 ₱7.55

125.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.14 ₱132

-2.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$1.17 ₱72.2

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$13.2K ₱814.1K

97.15%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$14.0K ₱863.1K

62.84%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$73.5 ₱4,524

84.27%

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

$21.56 ₱1,327

$32.44 ₱1,997

-33.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$26.38 ₱1,624

4.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$21.32 ₱1,313

94.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.55 ₱280

49.89%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$5.87 ₱361

17.89%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$36.46 ₱2,245

895.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$4,327 ₱266.4K

167.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$45.84 ₱2,822

2.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$8.75 ₱539

293.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$53.9 ₱3,320

51.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$43.81 ₱2,697

8.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$133 ₱8,208

264.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$62.4 ₱3,838

335.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$192 ₱11.8K

800.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$160 ₱9,856

300.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$2,497 ₱153.7K

73.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$1,017 ₱62.6K

155.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

$564 ₱34.7K

-17.21%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Valenzuela: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Manila versus $133 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 $35.00 in Valenzuela. Groceries tell a different story – $241 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: $957 in Manila, $539 in Valenzuela – roughly 78% 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 $809 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 $957 in Manila and $539 in Valenzuela. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $36.46 in Valenzuela. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Manila and $539 in Valenzuela, 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 $539 in Valenzuela 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 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.