Cost of Living Comparison Between Quezon City and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Quezon City and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $906 per month in Quezon City vs $959 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,375 per month in Quezon City vs $1,528 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,844 per month in Quezon City vs $2,097 in Manila, rent included.

Quezon City is about 6% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Quezon City and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Quezon City 32% lower, Manila 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.89 ₱302

$5.38 ₱332

-9.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.49 ₱1,325

$26.83 ₱1,655

-19.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.12 ₱192

$4.34 ₱267

-28.11%

Cappuccino

$2.85 ₱176

$2.75 ₱169

3.64%

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

$0.92 ₱56.8

$0.96 ₱58.9

-4.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.27

$0.50 ₱30.56

-24.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ₱75.3

$1.49 ₱92.0

-18.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ₱167

$2.61 ₱161

3.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 ₱133

$1.89 ₱116

14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 ₱74.1

$1.38 ₱85.3

-13.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.4

$1.05 ₱64.7

2.86%

Eggs

$2.03 ₱125

$2.18 ₱135

-6.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.10 ₱438

$9.61 ₱593

-26.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₱261

$5.19 ₱320

-18.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.39 ₱456

$8.32 ₱513

-11.18%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱269

$3.50 ₱216

24.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 ₱98.6

$1.80 ₱111

-11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱184

$3.58 ₱221

-16.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ₱101

$2.49 ₱154

-34.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.89 ₱178

$2.76 ₱170

4.71%

Onion (1kg)

$4.16 ₱256

$3.03 ₱187

37.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 ₱97.0

$2.01 ₱124

-21.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₱64.5

$0.64 ₱39.57

64.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 ₱193

$3.32 ₱205

-5.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.20 ₱444

$9.74 ₱601

-26.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₱95.4

$1.49 ₱92.1

4.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱125

$2.15 ₱133

-6.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱28.17

$0.52 ₱31.91

-11.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱51.6

$0.86 ₱53.2

-2.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.24

$0.25 ₱15.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.1

$1.16 ₱71.8

-6.03%

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

$25.3K ₱1.6M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

-3.62%

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

$20.2K ₱1.2M

$22.7K ₱1.4M

-10.95%

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

$161 ₱9,945

$138 ₱8,529

16.60%

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

$33.64 ₱2,074

$22.24 ₱1,371

51.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.00 ₱1,850

$27.71 ₱1,709

8.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.35 ₱1,501

$41.41 ₱2,554

-41.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 ₱391

$6.89 ₱425

-7.98%

Cinema Ticket

$7.22 ₱445

$6.58 ₱406

9.73%

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

$79.8 ₱4,920

$357 ₱22.0K

-77.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,821 ₱173.9K

$11.5K ₱707.3K

-75.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.80 ₱1,961

$46.42 ₱2,862

-31.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.11 ₱1,795

$35.12 ₱2,166

-17.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.7 ₱6,085

$82.4 ₱5,081

19.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.6 ₱5,894

$45.78 ₱2,823

108.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$274 ₱16.9K

$500 ₱30.8K

-45.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 ₱12.2K

$265 ₱16.3K

-25.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ₱45.5K

$1,684 ₱103.8K

-56.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$430 ₱26.5K

$636 ₱39.2K

-32.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ₱145.7K

$4,370 ₱269.4K

-45.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,479 ₱91.2K

$2,544 ₱156.9K

-41.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$436 ₱26.9K

$481 ₱29.7K

-9.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.13

7.52

8.11%

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

Last update for Quezon City: June 2, 2026

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $274 in Quezon City 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 10% 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 $21.00 in Quezon City versus $27.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $224 vs $242 – making Quezon City 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

Quezon City vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $906 in Quezon City, $959 in Manila – roughly 6% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,359 per month in Quezon City 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 Quezon City, 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 $906 in Quezon City and $959 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $79.8 per month in Quezon City and $357 in Manila. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Quezon City, where all-in costs run around $906, than in Manila at $959. In Quezon City 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 $906 in Quezon City 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 Quezon City. 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.