Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in San Fernando, La Union: $721 a month against $922 in Manila, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

34

Cost of Living Index in San Fernando, La Union
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San Fernando, La Union Living Index
44

Cost of Living Index in Manila
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Manila Living Index

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San Fernando, La Union

🇵🇭 Philippines

$721

/mo nomad

Manila

🇵🇭 Philippines

$922

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Fernando, La Union and in Manila

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

A single person spends $721 per month in San Fernando, La Union vs $922 in Manila, rent included.

San Fernando, La Union $721
Manila $922

A couple spends around $1,102 per month in San Fernando, La Union vs $1,531 in Manila, rent included.

San Fernando, La Union $1,102
Manila $1,531

A family of three spends $1,484 per month in San Fernando, La Union vs $2,140 in Manila, rent included.

San Fernando, La Union $1,484
Manila $2,140

San Fernando, La Union is about 22% cheaper than Manila, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both San Fernando, La Union and Manila are more affordable than the global median – San Fernando, La Union 47% lower, Manila 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 ₱253

$4.66 ₱296

-14.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.71 ₱1,062

$26.32 ₱1,673

-36.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.69 ₱171

$4.02 ₱256

-33.08%

Cappuccino

$2.14 ₱136

$2.51 ₱159

-14.74%

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

$0.69 ₱43.67

$1.37 ₱87.2

-49.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱21.23

$0.89 ₱56.5

-62.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ₱75.4

$1.20 ₱76.1

-0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₱131

$2.34 ₱149

-11.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ₱105

$1.87 ₱119

-11.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 ₱69.6

$1.41 ₱89.6

-22.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.89 ₱56.7

$1.02 ₱64.6

-12.75%

Eggs

$1.90 ₱121

$2.19 ₱139

-13.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.52 ₱351

$7.47 ₱475

-26.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.09 ₱260

$4.86 ₱309

-15.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱452

$6.98 ₱444

1.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ₱152

$3.28 ₱208

-27.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₱99.6

$1.81 ₱115

-13.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ₱148

$2.90 ₱185

-19.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱74.6

$1.91 ₱122

-38.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 ₱131

$2.30 ₱146

-10.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 ₱146

$2.69 ₱171

-14.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱68.8

$2.18 ₱139

-50.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.65

$0.57 ₱36.47

-7.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.82 ₱180

$3.07 ₱195

-8.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.54 ₱479

$9.34 ₱594

-19.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱62.9

$1.27 ₱81.0

-22.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱122

$2.05 ₱130

-5.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.92

$0.33 ₱21.01

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.52 ₱796

$12.80 ₱814

-2.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.80 ₱51.0

$0.78 ₱49.28

2.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 ₱12.72

$0.20 ₱12.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.91 ₱122

$1.85 ₱118

3.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 ₱65.7

$1.31 ₱83.3

-21.37%

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

$20.8K ₱1.3M

0.14%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

-1.99%

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

$119 ₱7,589

$109 ₱6,946

9.24%

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

$15.64 ₱994

$15.71 ₱999

-0.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.84 ₱1,515

$24.58 ₱1,563

-3.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.64 ₱2,012

$41.75 ₱2,655

-24.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.16 ₱328

$5.84 ₱372

-11.64%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 ₱332

$6.42 ₱408

-18.69%

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

$130 ₱8,240

$606 ₱38.5K

-78.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,895 ₱501.9K

$7,674 ₱487.9K

2.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.12 ₱2,106

$55.8 ₱3,550

-40.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.07 ₱1,213

$28.57 ₱1,817

-33.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 ₱4,402

$68.9 ₱4,381

0.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.4 ₱3,520

$58.3 ₱3,706

-5.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$251 ₱16.0K

$533 ₱33.9K

-52.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$167 ₱10.6K

$289 ₱18.4K

-42.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ₱31.1K

$1,916 ₱121.8K

-74.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 ₱22.3K

$780 ₱49.6K

-55.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,657 ₱168.9K

$4,078 ₱259.3K

-34.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,125 ₱71.5K

$2,432 ₱154.6K

-53.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ₱32.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.92

7.43

-6.86%

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

Last update for San Fernando, La Union: November 2, 2026

Last update for Manila: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

San Fernando, La Union

$179 24.8%

Manila

$219 23.7% 22.3% $40

Accommodation & Living

San Fernando, La Union

$167 23.2%

Manila

$289 31.4% 73.1% $122

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Fernando, La Union

$159 22%

Manila

$150 16.2% 5.8% $9.3

Eating Out

San Fernando, La Union

$80 11.1%

Manila

$99 10.8% 24.4% $19

Clothing & Footwear

San Fernando, La Union

$80 11%

Manila

$95 10.3% 19.7% $16

Sport & Entertainment

San Fernando, La Union

$42 5.8%

Manila

$55 5.9% 29.7% $12

Getting Around

San Fernando, La Union

$15 2.1%

Manila

$16 1.7% 4.6% $0.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $251 in San Fernando, La Union versus $533 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 $17 in San Fernando, La Union versus $26 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $219 – making San Fernando, La Union the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇭 San Fernando, La Union

🇵🇭 Manila

🕒 Local time

02:26 2:26 AM

Same time as San Fernando, La Union

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

83,003

1,780,148 Capital

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.57 USD

100 PHP = 1.4 EUR

100 PHP = 1.57 USD

100 PHP = 1.4 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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San Fernando, La Union Manila 240 km

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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: $721 in San Fernando, La Union, $922 in Manila – San Fernando, La Union comes out roughly 22% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,082 per month in San Fernando, La Union and $1,383 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $251 there versus $533 in Manila.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $721 in San Fernando, La Union and $922 in Manila. That makes San Fernando, La Union about 22% cheaper.

Kindergarten costs $130 per month in San Fernando, La Union and $606 in Manila. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Families tend to lean toward San Fernando, La Union – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.