Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Zamboanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Zamboanga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $751 in Zamboanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,086 in Zamboanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $1,421 in Zamboanga, rent included.

Manila costs about 28% more than Zamboanga, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Zamboanga are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Zamboanga 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$1.50 ₱92.3

252.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,672

$10.04 ₱619

170.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱281

$2.72 ₱167

67.28%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱169

$1.74 ₱107

56.90%

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

$0.96 ₱59.4

$0.91 ₱55.9

5.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱31.01

$0.42 ₱25.65

19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.9

$1.27 ₱78.2

21.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$1.66 ₱102

59.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.94 ₱120

-2.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱82.1

$1.58 ₱97.5

-15.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.2

$1.29 ₱79.8

-17.05%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$1.70 ₱105

22.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱573

$11.30 ₱697

-17.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$4.49 ₱277

16.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱527

$3.53 ₱218

142.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$3.50 ₱216

1.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.36 ₱83.8

32.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$4.14 ₱255

-13.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$2.61 ₱161

-4.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$1.39 ₱85.5

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱195

$2.77 ₱171

14.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$0.92 ₱56.6

115.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.24

$0.53 ₱32.71

28.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$3.11 ₱192

6.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱586

$4.34 ₱267

118.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.2

$1.41 ₱87.3

3.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.28 ₱141

-7.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.46

$0.22 ₱13.53

118.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱749

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.1

$0.85 ₱52.2

3.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.68

$0.22 ₱13.50

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.19 ₱135

-5.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.4

$1.21 ₱74.9

-3.31%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$26.3K ₱1.6M

-0.82%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

12.00%

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

$135 ₱8,351

$165 ₱10.2K

-17.83%

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

$21.56 ₱1,330

$47.18 ₱2,909

-54.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,701

$52.6 ₱3,245

-47.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,554

$40.51 ₱2,498

2.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$4.45 ₱274

53.26%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱427

$7.00 ₱432

-1.14%

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

$363 ₱22.4K

$52.8 ₱3,257

587.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱714.6K

$1,218 ₱75.1K

851.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,905

$24.98 ₱1,540

88.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,121

$26.13 ₱1,611

31.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,049

$88.1 ₱5,436

-7.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,924

$61.7 ₱3,806

-23.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$140 ₱8,603

248.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$70.4 ₱4,339

285.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.6K

$378 ₱23.3K

356.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$142 ₱8,736

352.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱267.2K

$2,755 ₱169.9K

57.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.5K

$941 ₱58.1K

176.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.8K

$194 ₱11.9K

141.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

-37.33%

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

Last update for Manila: July 11, 2026

Last update for Zamboanga: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Manila versus $140 in Zamboanga. 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 141% higher in Manila, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $10.00 in Zamboanga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $209 – making Zamboanga 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 Zamboanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $957 in Manila, $751 in Zamboanga – roughly 28% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,126 in Zamboanga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zamboanga, 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 $751 in Zamboanga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $52.8 in Zamboanga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Manila and $751 in Zamboanga, 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 $751 in Zamboanga 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 Zamboanga. 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.