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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $745 in Zamboanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,528 per month in Manila vs $1,076 in Zamboanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Manila vs $1,408 in Zamboanga, rent included.

Manila costs about 29% more than Zamboanga, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 ₱332

$1.55 ₱95.5

247.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,656

$9.47 ₱584

183.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 ₱268

$2.73 ₱169

58.97%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ₱169

$1.81 ₱111

51.93%

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

$0.96 ₱59.0

$0.91 ₱56.0

5.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.42 ₱25.86

19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.22 ₱75.6

22.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₱161

$1.64 ₱101

59.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱117

$1.94 ₱120

-2.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱85.4

$1.65 ₱102

-16.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$1.28 ₱79.2

-17.97%

Eggs

$2.18 ₱135

$1.66 ₱102

31.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 ₱593

$11.23 ₱693

-14.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 ₱320

$4.51 ₱278

15.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱513

$3.57 ₱220

133.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 ₱216

$3.37 ₱208

3.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.32 ₱81.2

36.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$4.22 ₱261

-15.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱154

$2.68 ₱166

-7.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$1.38 ₱85.1

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 ₱187

$2.76 ₱170

9.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 ₱124

$0.90 ₱55.4

123.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.60

$0.57 ₱34.92

12.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.99 ₱185

11.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 ₱601

$4.38 ₱270

122.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.1

$1.47 ₱90.5

1.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱133

$2.18 ₱134

-1.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.93

$0.24 ₱14.86

116.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱741

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.2

$0.93 ₱57.5

-7.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.38

$0.22 ₱13.57

13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.11 ₱130

2.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.9

$1.22 ₱75.0

-4.92%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$26.9K ₱1.7M

-2.54%

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

$22.7K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

9.82%

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

$138 ₱8,535

$167 ₱10.3K

-17.05%

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

$22.24 ₱1,372

$48.00 ₱2,962

-53.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.71 ₱1,710

$52.8 ₱3,257

-47.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,555

$39.54 ₱2,440

4.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

$4.31 ₱266

59.86%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱406

$6.95 ₱429

-5.32%

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

$357 ₱22.0K

$53.2 ₱3,285

570.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₱707.8K

$1,223 ₱75.5K

837.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,864

$24.61 ₱1,518

88.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 ₱2,167

$26.58 ₱1,640

32.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,084

$88.5 ₱5,462

-6.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 ₱2,825

$61.8 ₱3,811

-25.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$140 ₱8,609

258.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$71.1 ₱4,387

272.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 ₱103.9K

$370 ₱22.9K

354.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 ₱39.2K

$143 ₱8,824

344.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.6K

$2,275 ₱140.4K

92.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱157.0K

$1,099 ₱67.8K

131.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

$193 ₱11.9K

148.58%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Zamboanga: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 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 149% 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 $9.00 in Zamboanga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $210 – 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: $959 in Manila, $745 in Zamboanga – roughly 29% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Manila and $1,117 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 $959 in Manila and $745 in Zamboanga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Manila and $53.2 in Zamboanga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zamboanga, where all-in costs run around $745, than in Manila at $959. In Zamboanga 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 $745 in Zamboanga 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 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.