Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando, La Union and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando, La Union and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $677 per month in San Fernando, La Union vs $959 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,032 per month in San Fernando, La Union vs $1,528 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,387 per month in San Fernando, La Union vs $2,097 in Manila, rent included.

San Fernando, La Union is about 29% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both San Fernando, La Union and Manila are more affordable than the global median – San Fernando, La Union 49% lower, Manila 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 ₱224

$5.38 ₱332

-32.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.01 ₱1,111

$26.83 ₱1,655

-32.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.24 ₱200

$4.34 ₱267

-25.35%

Cappuccino

$2.48 ₱153

$2.75 ₱169

-9.82%

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

$0.78 ₱48.35

$0.96 ₱58.9

-18.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.54

$0.50 ₱30.56

-26.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 ₱79.9

$1.49 ₱92.0

-12.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱130

$2.61 ₱161

-19.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.94 ₱181

$1.89 ₱116

55.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ₱78.3

$1.38 ₱85.3

-7.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 ₱57.4

$1.05 ₱64.7

-11.43%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱123

$2.18 ₱135

-8.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.17 ₱504

$9.61 ₱593

-14.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₱261

$5.19 ₱320

-18.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.51 ₱463

$8.32 ₱513

-9.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 ₱182

$3.50 ₱216

-15.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 ₱95.4

$1.80 ₱111

-13.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 ₱163

$3.58 ₱221

-26.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₱99.3

$2.49 ₱154

-35.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 ₱142

$2.76 ₱170

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 ₱161

$3.03 ₱187

-13.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 ₱65.5

$2.01 ₱124

-47.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₱44.80

$0.64 ₱39.57

14.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₱180

$3.32 ₱205

-12.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.20 ₱506

$9.74 ₱601

-15.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.5

$1.49 ₱92.1

-18.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ₱123

$2.15 ₱133

-7.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.37

$0.52 ₱31.91

-46.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱50.6

$0.86 ₱53.2

-4.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.25 ₱15.37

-4.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.07 ₱128

$2.16 ₱133

-4.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱71.2

$1.16 ₱71.8

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

-0.16%

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

$20.7K ₱1.3M

$22.7K ₱1.4M

-8.80%

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

$111 ₱6,873

$138 ₱8,529

-19.41%

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

$32.80 ₱2,023

$22.24 ₱1,371

47.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.83 ₱1,716

$27.71 ₱1,709

0.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.42 ₱828

$41.41 ₱2,554

-67.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.49 ₱277

$6.89 ₱425

-34.83%

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ₱359

$6.58 ₱406

-11.55%

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

$153 ₱9,463

$357 ₱22.0K

-56.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,736 ₱353.7K

$11.5K ₱707.3K

-50.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.93 ₱2,770

$46.42 ₱2,862

-3.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.48 ₱1,633

$35.12 ₱2,166

-24.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.74 ₱2,204

$82.4 ₱5,081

-56.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.67 ₱2,508

$45.78 ₱2,823

-11.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$131 ₱8,067

$500 ₱30.8K

-73.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 ₱7,593

$265 ₱16.3K

-53.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$249 ₱15.4K

$1,684 ₱103.8K

-85.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 ₱13.3K

$636 ₱39.2K

-66.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,315 ₱142.8K

$4,370 ₱269.4K

-47.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$974 ₱60.1K

$2,544 ₱156.9K

-61.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

7.52

-11.30%

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

Last update for San Fernando, La Union: June 1, 2026

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $131 in San Fernando, La Union 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in San Fernando, La Union versus $27.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $216 vs $242 – making San Fernando, La Union 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

San Fernando, La Union vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $677 in San Fernando, La Union, $959 in Manila – roughly 42% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,016 per month in San Fernando, La Union 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 San Fernando, La Union, 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 $677 in San Fernando, La Union and $959 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $153 per month in San Fernando, La Union and $357 in Manila. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in San Fernando, La Union, where all-in costs run around $677, than in Manila at $959. In San Fernando, La Union 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 $677 in San Fernando, La Union 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 San Fernando, La Union. 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.