Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $783 per month in San Juan vs $957 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,285 per month in San Juan vs $1,543 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,786 per month in San Juan vs $2,130 in Manila, rent included.

San Juan is about 18% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both San Juan and Manila are more affordable than the global median – San Juan 41% lower, Manila 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.73 ₱164

$5.22 ₱315

-47.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.03 ₱544

$26.52 ₱1,597

-65.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 ₱219

$4.38 ₱264

-16.89%

Cappuccino

$2.85 ₱172

$2.72 ₱164

4.78%

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

$0.78 ₱46.90

$0.93 ₱55.9

-16.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱29.04

$0.51 ₱30.63

-5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱89.5

$1.52 ₱91.7

-1.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱127

$2.71 ₱163

-22.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₱109

$1.95 ₱117

-6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ₱93.8

$1.36 ₱81.9

14.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱60.1

$1.09 ₱65.5

-8.26%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱125

$2.10 ₱127

-1.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.86 ₱474

$9.46 ₱570

-16.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.11 ₱308

$5.24 ₱316

-2.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.47 ₱630

$8.78 ₱529

19.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 ₱137

$3.40 ₱205

-32.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 ₱90.6

$1.77 ₱106

-15.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.21 ₱193

$3.48 ₱210

-7.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ₱72.2

$2.41 ₱145

-50.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 ₱102

$2.67 ₱161

-36.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.60 ₱217

$3.15 ₱190

14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱66.6

$2.02 ₱122

-45.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ₱54.3

$0.69 ₱41.56

30.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ₱173

$3.35 ₱202

-14.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.43 ₱448

$10.03 ₱604

-25.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱43.56

$1.46 ₱87.9

-50.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₱95.0

$2.14 ₱129

-26.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 ₱10.15

$0.52 ₱31.03

-67.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 ₱723

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 ₱43.43

$0.92 ₱55.1

-21.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.22

$0.27 ₱16.32

-18.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 ₱127

$2.18 ₱131

-3.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱67.5

$1.16 ₱69.6

-3.45%

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

$28.2K ₱1.7M

$26.8K ₱1.6M

5.17%

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

$18.0K ₱1.1M

$23.1K ₱1.4M

-22.25%

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

$127 ₱7,628

$134 ₱8,058

-5.34%

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

$33.34 ₱2,008

$22.30 ₱1,343

49.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.33 ₱1,586

$26.94 ₱1,622

-2.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.2 ₱4,346

$42.13 ₱2,537

71.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.54 ₱273

$6.77 ₱408

-32.94%

Cinema Ticket

$3.89 ₱234

$6.57 ₱395

-40.79%

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

$149 ₱8,971

$354 ₱21.3K

-57.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,324 ₱260.4K

$11.2K ₱675.0K

-61.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.12 ₱2,777

$47.31 ₱2,849

-2.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.52 ₱2,079

$34.90 ₱2,102

-1.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 ₱4,092

$82.5 ₱4,966

-17.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₱6,891

$46.21 ₱2,783

147.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 ₱16.2K

$500 ₱30.1K

-46.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 ₱6,500

$272 ₱16.4K

-60.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 ₱75.6K

$1,716 ₱103.3K

-26.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.5K

$631 ₱38.0K

-38.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,548 ₱153.5K

$4,360 ₱262.6K

-41.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,121 ₱67.5K

$2,599 ₱156.5K

-56.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$248 ₱14.9K

$516 ₱31.1K

-51.97%

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 Juan: June 13, 2026

Last update for Manila: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $269 in San Juan 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 108% 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 $9.00 in San Juan versus $27.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $243 – making San Juan 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 Juan vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $783 in San Juan, $957 in Manila – roughly 22% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,175 per month in San Juan and $1,436 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Juan, 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 $783 in San Juan and $957 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 Juan and $354 in Manila. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in San Juan, where all-in costs run around $783, than in Manila at $957. In San Juan 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 $783 in San Juan to $957 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 Juan. 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.