Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Paranaque City and Contagem

For one person, living costs are similar in Paranaque City and in Contagem: $790 and $776 a month, rent and utilities included.

Paranaque City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$790
/mo nomad
Contagem
🇧🇷 Brazil
$776
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Paranaque City and in Contagem

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Paranaque City and in Contagem actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $790 per month in Paranaque City vs $776 in Contagem, rent included.

  • Paranaque City $790
  • Contagem $776

A couple spends around $1,188 per month in Paranaque City vs $1,248 in Contagem, rent included.

  • Paranaque City $1,188
  • Contagem $1,248

A family of three spends $1,586 per month in Paranaque City vs $1,719 in Contagem, rent included.

  • Paranaque City $1,586
  • Contagem $1,719

Paranaque City costs about 2% more than Contagem, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Paranaque City and Contagem are more affordable than the global median – Paranaque City 42% lower, Contagem 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Paranaque City
Contagem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.27 ₱269
$5.86 R$29.69
-27.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.90 ₱1,064
$30.09 R$153
-43.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.84 ₱179
$7.07 R$35.84
-59.83%
Cappuccino
$2.13 ₱134
$1.69 R$8.58
26.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ₱45.70
$1.35 R$6.85
-45.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₱19.22
$0.62 R$3.13
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.12 ₱70.8
$1.26 R$6.41
-11.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 ₱177
$2.51 R$12.72
11.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Paranaque City
Contagem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ₱104
$0.95 R$4.84
73.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.17 ₱73.7
$1.83 R$9.30
-36.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.98 ₱61.7
$1.35 R$6.85
-27.41%
Eggs
$2.02 ₱127
$2.01 R$10.20
0.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.22 ₱329
$9.67 R$49.00
-46.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 ₱258
$3.39 R$17.16
20.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.94 ₱500
$7.58 R$38.41
4.75%
Apples (1kg)
$3.82 ₱240
$1.88 R$9.51
103.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 ₱97.0
$1.21 R$6.14
27.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.47 ₱219
$0.96 R$4.87
261.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 ₱71.7
$1.64 R$8.31
-30.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.69 ₱106
$1.08 R$5.49
56.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 ₱118
$0.96 R$4.86
95.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 ₱57.0
$0.84 R$4.25
8.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ₱32.84
$0.83 R$4.20
-37.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.82 ₱178
$1.60 R$8.12
76.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.34 ₱462
$5.80 R$29.41
26.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 ₱58.3
$0.94 R$4.79
-1.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ₱131
$1.41 R$7.17
46.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Paranaque City
Contagem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 ₱12.07
$1.44 R$7.31
-86.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.13 ₱701
$79.3 R$402
-85.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.78 ₱48.83
$1.13 R$5.74
-30.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.19
$0.72 R$3.63
-70.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.92 ₱121
$6.28 R$31.82
-69.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ₱74.4
$1.28 R$6.48
-7.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ₱1.3M
$23.4K R$118.8K
-10.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K ₱1.2M
$32.2K R$163.0K
-39.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Paranaque City
Contagem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$141 ₱8,869
$77.6 R$393
81.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.27 ₱899
$10.12 R$51.3
41.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.53 ₱1,544
$19.31 R$97.9
27.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Paranaque City
Contagem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.09 ₱2,335
$26.80 R$136
38.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.68 ₱358
$23.87 R$121
-76.20%
Cinema Ticket
$6.55 ₱412
$7.02 R$35.59
-6.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Paranaque City
Contagem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$71.4 ₱4,498
$143 R$725
-50.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,246 ₱393.3K
$2,614 R$13.2K
138.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Paranaque City
Contagem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.32 ₱2,287
$59.9 R$304
-39.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.30 ₱1,215
$49.09 R$249
-60.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.2 ₱4,547
$67.1 R$340
7.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.3 ₱4,675
$48.13 R$244
54.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Paranaque City
Contagem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$226 ₱14.2K
$223 R$1,132
1.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 ₱11.5K
$154 R$779
18.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$562 ₱35.4K
$472 R$2,391
19.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 ₱22.3K
$319 R$1,617
10.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,123 ₱70.7K
$2,016 R$10.2K
-44.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$417 ₱26.3K
$1,004 R$5,087
-58.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Paranaque City
Contagem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$482 ₱30.3K
$263 R$1,331
83.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
10.67
-34.40%

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

Last update for Paranaque City: October 20, 2026

Last update for Contagem: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Paranaque City
$190
Contagem
$176 7.4% $14
Accommodation & Living
Paranaque City
$182
Contagem
$154 15.5% $28
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Paranaque City
$180
Contagem
$107 40.4% $73
Clothing & Footwear
Paranaque City
$91
Contagem
$101 11% $10
Eating Out
Paranaque City
$84
Contagem
$108 28.7% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Paranaque City
$50
Contagem
$41 18.6% $9.4
Getting Around
Paranaque City
$14
Contagem
$90 554% $76

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $226 in Paranaque City versus $223 in Contagem. 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 83% higher in Paranaque City, 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 $17.00 in Paranaque City versus $30.00 in Contagem. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Paranaque City vs $176 in Contagem – so Contagem wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Paranaque City
🇧🇷 Contagem
🕒 Local time
00:11 12:11 AM
13:11 1:11 PM
11 h behind Paranaque City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
703,245
621,863
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Paranaque City Contagem 18,320 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Paranaque City
  • Contagem

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Paranaque City vs Contagem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Contagem cheaper than Paranaque City?
Yes – Paranaque City is pricier by about 2%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,186 per month in Paranaque City and $1,164 in Contagem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Contagem, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 613% less in Contagem. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $71.4 per month in Paranaque City and $143 in Contagem. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Paranaque City or Contagem?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $790 in Paranaque City and $776 in Contagem, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Paranaque City or Contagem more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Contagem – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Paranaque City or Contagem?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Contagem. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Paranaque City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Paranaque City vs other spots: cost of living compared

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