Cost of Living Comparison Between Muntinlupa and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Muntinlupa and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $909 per month in Muntinlupa vs $958 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,417 per month in Muntinlupa vs $1,515 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,926 per month in Muntinlupa vs $2,073 in Manila, rent included.

Muntinlupa is about 5% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Muntinlupa and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Muntinlupa 32% lower, Manila 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.90 ₱297

$5.45 ₱331

-10.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.13 ₱1,587

$26.28 ₱1,596

-0.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.14 ₱191

$4.32 ₱263

-27.31%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ₱165

$2.71 ₱164

0.37%

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

$0.94 ₱57.0

$0.91 ₱55.0

3.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱25.45

$0.50 ₱30.58

-16.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱84.2

$1.50 ₱91.0

-7.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₱160

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱115

$1.89 ₱115

0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱74.7

$1.38 ₱83.8

-10.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱62.7

$1.08 ₱65.9

-4.63%

Eggs

$1.99 ₱121

$2.14 ₱130

-7.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.11 ₱432

$9.52 ₱578

-25.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 ₱291

$5.33 ₱324

-10.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.33 ₱445

$8.37 ₱508

-12.43%

Apples (1kg)

$4.05 ₱246

$3.39 ₱206

19.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 ₱94.3

$1.82 ₱111

-14.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 ₱182

$3.66 ₱222

-18.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.43 ₱148

$2.49 ₱151

-2.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 ₱165

$2.78 ₱169

-2.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.07 ₱186

$3.05 ₱185

0.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 ₱119

$2.04 ₱124

-3.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₱64.0

$0.65 ₱39.71

61.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ₱199

$3.42 ₱208

-4.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.77 ₱533

$9.50 ₱577

-7.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 ₱90.0

$1.44 ₱87.5

2.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱124

$2.14 ₱130

-4.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.75

$0.51 ₱31.13

-49.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.10 ₱856

$11.85 ₱719

18.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱50.7

$0.91 ₱55.5

-8.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.27

$0.25 ₱15.18

-12.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₱127

$2.08 ₱126

0.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.7

$1.16 ₱70.3

-0.86%

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

$25.5K ₱1.5M

$26.3K ₱1.6M

-3.05%

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

$20.3K ₱1.2M

$22.4K ₱1.4M

-9.43%

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

$136 ₱8,279

$136 ₱8,261

0.21%

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

$21.69 ₱1,317

$22.24 ₱1,350

-2.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.90 ₱1,816

$27.14 ₱1,648

10.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.77 ₱3,022

$42.15 ₱2,559

18.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.49 ₱273

$6.88 ₱418

-34.74%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱420

$6.58 ₱400

5.17%

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

$115 ₱7,012

$362 ₱22.0K

-68.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,576 ₱277.9K

$11.2K ₱681.7K

-59.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.20 ₱2,805

$46.99 ₱2,853

-1.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.74 ₱2,110

$35.37 ₱2,148

-1.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.5 ₱5,861

$82.4 ₱5,001

17.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 ₱5,654

$46.51 ₱2,824

100.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$395 ₱24.0K

$491 ₱29.8K

-19.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 ₱12.6K

$268 ₱16.3K

-22.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,135 ₱68.9K

$1,726 ₱104.8K

-34.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$436 ₱26.5K

$621 ₱37.7K

-29.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,387 ₱144.9K

$4,269 ₱259.2K

-44.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,026 ₱62.3K

$2,574 ₱156.3K

-60.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$634 ₱38.5K

$487 ₱29.5K

30.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

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

Last update for Muntinlupa: June 6, 2026

Last update for Manila: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $395 in Muntinlupa versus $491 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 30% higher in Muntinlupa, 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 $26.00 in Muntinlupa versus $26.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $228 vs $242 – making Muntinlupa 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

Muntinlupa vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $909 in Muntinlupa, $958 in Manila – roughly 5% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,363 per month in Muntinlupa and $1,437 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Muntinlupa, 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 $909 in Muntinlupa and $958 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 19% less in Muntinlupa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Muntinlupa, where all-in costs run around $909, than in Manila at $958. In Muntinlupa 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 $909 in Muntinlupa to $958 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 Muntinlupa. 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.