Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose del Monte and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose del Monte and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $777 per month in San Jose del Monte vs $968 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,210 per month in San Jose del Monte vs $1,526 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,643 per month in San Jose del Monte vs $2,085 in Manila, rent included.

San Jose del Monte is about 20% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both San Jose del Monte and Manila are more affordable than the global median – San Jose del Monte 42% lower, Manila 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ₱275

$5.40 ₱332

-17.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 ₱1,647

$26.20 ₱1,609

2.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.60 ₱221

$4.32 ₱265

-16.67%

Cappuccino

$2.74 ₱168

$2.65 ₱163

3.40%

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

$0.86 ₱53.1

$0.96 ₱58.8

-10.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱29.86

$0.54 ₱33.34

-9.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.42 ₱87.3

$1.53 ₱93.7

-7.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 ₱164

$2.73 ₱168

-2.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$1.90 ₱117

-0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 ₱82.3

$1.33 ₱81.7

0.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱61.4

$1.09 ₱66.8

-8.26%

Eggs

$2.04 ₱125

$2.11 ₱129

-3.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.48 ₱582

$9.09 ₱558

4.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.10 ₱313

$5.12 ₱314

-0.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.31 ₱510

$8.32 ₱511

-0.12%

Apples (1kg)

$0.72 ₱44.45

$3.48 ₱214

-79.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$1.83 ₱113

-0.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.55 ₱33.85

$3.65 ₱224

-84.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 ₱85.0

$2.48 ₱152

-44.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.68 ₱164

-21.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ₱84.9

$3.09 ₱190

-55.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱67.0

$1.99 ₱122

-45.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₱39.61

$0.70 ₱42.86

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.47 ₱213

$3.36 ₱206

3.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.73 ₱536

$9.94 ₱610

-12.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₱85.2

$1.45 ₱88.9

-4.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱132

$2.15 ₱132

-0.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.29

$0.51 ₱31.58

-45.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱741

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱47.84

$0.87 ₱53.3

-10.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.74

$0.27 ₱16.71

-11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 ₱134

$2.09 ₱128

3.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.8

$1.13 ₱69.2

1.77%

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

$26.2K ₱1.6M

$26.5K ₱1.6M

-1.40%

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

$17.4K ₱1.1M

$23.0K ₱1.4M

-24.32%

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

$127 ₱7,812

$136 ₱8,343

-6.36%

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

$21.60 ₱1,326

$22.22 ₱1,364

-2.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.31 ₱1,616

$27.60 ₱1,695

-4.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.15 ₱2,097

$42.74 ₱2,624

-20.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.54 ₱279

$7.04 ₱432

-35.51%

Cinema Ticket

$6.76 ₱415

$6.67 ₱409

1.35%

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

$149 ₱9,144

$363 ₱22.3K

-58.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,314 ₱264.9K

$11.4K ₱696.9K

-62.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.32 ₱2,844

$46.97 ₱2,884

-1.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.63 ₱2,065

$34.66 ₱2,128

-2.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.9 ₱4,166

$83.1 ₱5,100

-18.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.85 ₱2,815

$46.23 ₱2,838

-0.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.5K

$488 ₱30.0K

-45.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₱10.8K

$263 ₱16.2K

-32.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 ₱36.2K

$1,705 ₱104.7K

-65.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱24.4K

$627 ₱38.5K

-36.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,239 ₱137.5K

$4,414 ₱271.0K

-49.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$990 ₱60.8K

$2,526 ₱155.1K

-60.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

7.52

-17.95%

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

Last update for San Jose del Monte: July 25, 2026

Last update for Manila: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $268 in San Jose del Monte versus $488 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 $27.00 in San Jose del Monte versus $26.00 in Manila. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in San Jose del Monte vs $240 in Manila – so San Jose del Monte wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Jose del Monte vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $777 in San Jose del Monte, $968 in Manila – roughly 25% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,165 per month in San Jose del Monte and $1,452 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Jose del Monte, 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 $777 in San Jose del Monte and $968 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $149 per month in San Jose del Monte and $363 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 San Jose del Monte, where all-in costs run around $777, than in Manila at $968. In San Jose del Monte 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 $777 in San Jose del Monte to $968 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 Jose del Monte. 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.