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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $927 per month in Manila vs $744 in Zamboanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $1,128 in Zamboanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,511 in Zamboanga, rent included.

Manila costs about 25% more than Zamboanga, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manila and Zamboanga are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Zamboanga 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱323

$1.33 ₱83.3

287.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,618

$16.92 ₱1,058

52.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱246

$3.50 ₱219

12.29%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱158

$2.03 ₱127

24.14%

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

$1.36 ₱84.9

$0.93 ₱58.4

46.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.0

$0.41 ₱25.37

102.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.6

$1.47 ₱91.8

-23.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱171

$2.07 ₱129

32.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱119

$1.77 ₱111

7.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.4

$1.43 ₱89.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.2

$1.11 ₱69.5

-11.71%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱140

$1.49 ₱93.2

49.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱500

$10.16 ₱636

-21.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱293

$4.10 ₱256

14.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱426

$3.31 ₱207

105.74%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱208

$3.08 ₱192

7.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$1.21 ₱75.7

51.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱187

$3.89 ₱243

-23.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.19 ₱74.3

56.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱142

$1.21 ₱75.5

86.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱169

$2.50 ₱156

8.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$0.84 ₱52.4

150.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.76

$0.51 ₱32.03

9.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱200

$2.74 ₱171

16.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱601

$4.29 ₱269

124.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.8

$1.31 ₱82.2

0.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱131

$2.05 ₱128

2.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱28.98

$0.22 ₱13.76

109.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱793

$11.23 ₱703

12.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.2

$0.82 ₱51.1

1.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.44

$0.23 ₱14.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱117

$1.97 ₱123

-5.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.4

$1.03 ₱64.2

20.39%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.5K ₱1.3M

-0.54%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$19.8K ₱1.2M

-2.11%

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

$122 ₱7,631

$121 ₱7,587

0.59%

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

$14.83 ₱928

$15.03 ₱940

-1.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,498

$48.66 ₱3,044

-50.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,656

$35.46 ₱2,218

19.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱362

$4.85 ₱303

19.38%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱430

$5.28 ₱330

30.30%

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

$621 ₱38.8K

$133 ₱8,295

368.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱554.6K

$7,917 ₱495.3K

11.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,597

$32.69 ₱2,045

75.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,754

$19.36 ₱1,211

44.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,855

$72.4 ₱4,531

7.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,620

$56.2 ₱3,515

2.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.4K

$264 ₱16.5K

102.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱17.9K

$175 ₱11.0K

63.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.6K

$338 ₱21.1K

470.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.5K

$349 ₱21.8K

90.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱272.5K

$2,646 ₱165.5K

64.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱159.8K

$1,057 ₱66.1K

141.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.6K

$191 ₱12.0K

147.72%

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 8, 2026

Last update for Zamboanga: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $264 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 148% 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $17.00 in Zamboanga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $185 – 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: $927 in Manila, $744 in Zamboanga – roughly 25% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,391 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 $927 in Manila and $744 in Zamboanga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% less in Zamboanga. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zamboanga, where all-in costs run around $744, than in Manila at $927. 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 $744 in Zamboanga to $927 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.