Cost of Living Comparison Between Muntinlupa and Santa Ana Cost of Living Comparison Between Muntinlupa and Santa Ana

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $737 in Muntinlupa versus $1,034 in Santa Ana.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,152 in Muntinlupa versus $1,654 in Santa Ana.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,568 in Muntinlupa versus $2,274 in Santa Ana.

Living in Muntinlupa costs roughly 29% less than in Santa Ana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Muntinlupa 46% lower, Santa Ana 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 ₱252

$7.09 $7.09

-43.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.56 ₱1,598

$42.72 $42.72

-40.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.88 ₱180

$6.80 $6.80

-57.65%

Cappuccino

$2.37 ₱148

$3.49 $3.49

-32.09%

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

$0.88 ₱54.8

$1.16 $1.16

-24.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱26.94

$0.81 $0.81

-46.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₱71.6

$2.06 $2.06

-44.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ₱114

$3.60 $3.60

-49.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ₱102

$1.87 $1.87

-12.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱77.0

$2.79 $2.79

-55.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.0

$1.42 $1.42

-30.99%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱127

$3.14 $3.14

-35.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.11 ₱320

$7.48 $7.48

-31.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 ₱236

$6.98 $6.98

-45.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.17 ₱448

$10.34 $10.34

-30.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$5.08 $5.08

-54.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₱97.3

$1.47 $1.47

6.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 ₱156

$2.96 $2.96

-15.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.31 ₱81.9

$3.48 $3.48

-62.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.73 ₱108

$2.86 $2.86

-39.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 ₱118

$3.34 $3.34

-43.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 ₱51.3

$1.02 $1.02

-19.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱36.46

$1.00 $1.00

-42.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 ₱183

$4.08 $4.08

-28.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.03 ₱565

$11.78 $11.78

-23.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₱83.0

$2.25 $2.25

-40.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₱127

$2.95 $2.95

-30.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ₱18.00

$0.29 $0.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.60 ₱600

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱51.7

$6.06 $6.06

-86.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.42

$2.97 $2.97

-92.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 ₱121

$20.05 $20.05

-90.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱72.3

$0.99 $0.99

17.17%

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

$21.2K ₱1.3M

$22.7K $22.7K

-6.32%

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

$19.6K ₱1.2M

$27.1K $27.1K

-27.75%

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

$123 ₱7,720

$39.90 $39.90

209.42%

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

$15.41 ₱964

$21.58 $21.58

-28.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 ₱1,508

$38.86 $38.86

-37.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.12 ₱2,009

$34.76 $34.76

-7.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.62 ₱289

Cinema Ticket

$5.15 ₱322

$5.06 $5.06

1.78%

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

$135 ₱8,425

$161 $161

-16.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,960 ₱560.3K

$4,720 $4,720

89.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.60 ₱2,039

$65.9 $65.9

-50.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.84 ₱1,241

$47.63 $47.63

-58.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.5 ₱4,843

$120 $120

-35.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.0 ₱3,629

$115 $115

-49.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.4K

$647 $647

-59.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 ₱10.8K

$280 $280

-38.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$502 ₱31.4K

$1,012 $1,012

-50.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$402 ₱25.1K

$454 $454

-11.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,584 ₱161.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,046 ₱65.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 ₱39.1K

$457 $457

36.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

35.00%

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

Last update for Muntinlupa: August 29, 2026

Last update for Santa Ana: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Muntinlupa and $647 in Santa Ana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Muntinlupa pays 37% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $26.00 in Muntinlupa vs $43.00 in Santa Ana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $289 per month, with Muntinlupa cheaper across the board.

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 Santa Ana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Muntinlupa wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Santa Ana. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Muntinlupa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 37% higher in Muntinlupa, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $262 in Muntinlupa versus $647 in Santa Ana. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 59% higher in Santa Ana. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $737 per month in Muntinlupa versus $1,034 in Santa Ana – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $737 in Muntinlupa versus $1,034 in Santa Ana, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Muntinlupa but tight or insufficient in Santa Ana. The gap between the two cities makes Muntinlupa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Muntinlupa and Santa Ana are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Muntinlupa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Santa Ana. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.