Cost of Living Comparison Between Marikina and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Marikina and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $684 per month in Marikina vs $959 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,072 per month in Marikina vs $1,528 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,459 per month in Marikina vs $2,097 in Manila, rent included.

Marikina is about 29% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Marikina and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Marikina 49% lower, Manila 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 ₱214

$5.38 ₱332

-35.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.45 ₱1,754

$26.83 ₱1,655

6.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.46 ₱214

$4.34 ₱267

-20.28%

Cappuccino

$2.69 ₱166

$2.75 ₱169

-2.18%

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

$0.72 ₱44.50

$0.96 ₱58.9

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.94

$0.50 ₱30.56

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ₱66.9

$1.49 ₱92.0

-27.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₱162

$2.61 ₱161

0.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ₱127

$1.89 ₱116

8.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ₱89.7

$1.38 ₱85.3

5.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 ₱68.0

$1.05 ₱64.7

4.76%

Eggs

$2.26 ₱139

$2.18 ₱135

3.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.94 ₱490

$9.61 ₱593

-17.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 ₱284

$5.19 ₱320

-11.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.93 ₱489

$8.32 ₱513

-4.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₱167

$3.50 ₱216

-22.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.80 ₱111

6.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱167

$3.58 ₱221

-24.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.49 ₱154

-13.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.32 ₱205

$2.76 ₱170

20.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 ₱179

$3.03 ₱187

-3.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$2.01 ₱124

-43.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.57

$0.64 ₱39.57

7.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱176

$3.32 ₱205

-14.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.76 ₱540

$9.74 ₱601

-10.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₱76.6

$1.49 ₱92.1

-16.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.15 ₱133

-3.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱28.46

$0.52 ₱31.91

-11.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.15

$0.86 ₱53.2

-11.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.64

$0.25 ₱15.37

-52.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 ₱223

$2.16 ₱133

67.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.16 ₱71.8

-5.17%

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

$34.0K ₱2.1M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

29.93%

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

$17.4K ₱1.1M

$22.7K ₱1.4M

-23.32%

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

$110 ₱6,765

$138 ₱8,529

-20.68%

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

$13.62 ₱840

$22.24 ₱1,371

-38.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.05 ₱1,606

$27.71 ₱1,709

-5.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.93 ₱2,585

$41.41 ₱2,554

1.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

Cinema Ticket

$6.38 ₱393

$6.58 ₱406

-3.04%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$357 ₱22.0K

-9.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,131 ₱69.8K

$11.5K ₱707.3K

-90.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.42 ₱2,862

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ₱1,606

$35.12 ₱2,166

-25.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.5 ₱3,482

$82.4 ₱5,081

-31.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.95 ₱1,662

$45.78 ₱2,823

-41.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$178 ₱11.0K

$500 ₱30.8K

-64.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.2 ₱5,435

$265 ₱16.3K

-66.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 ₱18.3K

$1,684 ₱103.8K

-82.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$168 ₱10.4K

$636 ₱39.2K

-73.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,140 ₱70.3K

$4,370 ₱269.4K

-73.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$478 ₱29.5K

$2,544 ₱156.9K

-81.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$398 ₱24.5K

$481 ₱29.7K

-17.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

7.52

-16.89%

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

Last update for Marikina: May 30, 2026

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $178 in Marikina versus $500 in Manila. 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 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 $28.00 in Marikina versus $27.00 in Manila. Groceries tell a different story – $222 in Marikina vs $242 in Manila – so Marikina 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

Marikina vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $684 in Marikina, $959 in Manila – roughly 40% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,027 per month in Marikina and $1,438 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Marikina, 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 $684 in Marikina and $959 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $321 per month in Marikina and $357 in Manila. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Marikina, where all-in costs run around $684, than in Manila at $959. In Marikina 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 $684 in Marikina 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 Marikina. 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.