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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $846 per month in San Pablo vs $959 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,261 per month in San Pablo vs $1,528 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,675 per month in San Pablo vs $2,097 in Manila, rent included.

San Pablo is about 12% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both San Pablo and Manila are more affordable than the global median – San Pablo 37% lower, Manila 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.92 ₱304

$5.38 ₱332

-8.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.03 ₱865

$26.83 ₱1,655

-47.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.15 ₱194

$4.34 ₱267

-27.42%

Cappuccino

$2.86 ₱176

$2.75 ₱169

4.00%

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

$0.46 ₱28.18

$0.96 ₱58.9

-52.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₱17.29

$0.50 ₱30.56

-44.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.69 ₱42.69

$1.49 ₱92.0

-53.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₱129

$2.61 ₱161

-19.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ₱106

$1.89 ₱116

-8.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₱54.9

$1.38 ₱85.3

-35.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 ₱41.83

$1.05 ₱64.7

-35.24%

Eggs

$2.02 ₱124

$2.18 ₱135

-7.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.12 ₱316

$9.61 ₱593

-46.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.81 ₱235

$5.19 ₱320

-26.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.28 ₱449

$8.32 ₱513

-12.50%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱269

$3.50 ₱216

24.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$1.80 ₱111

-42.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 ₱138

$3.58 ₱221

-37.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 ₱106

$2.49 ₱154

-30.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 ₱89.2

$2.76 ₱170

-47.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.6

$3.03 ₱187

-66.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 ₱54.2

$2.01 ₱124

-56.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₱39.65

$0.64 ₱39.57

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.55 ₱158

$3.32 ₱205

-23.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.60 ₱407

$9.74 ₱601

-32.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱72.9

$1.49 ₱92.1

-20.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱124

$2.15 ₱133

-6.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.36

$0.52 ₱31.91

-46.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.69

$0.86 ₱53.2

-10.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$0.25 ₱15.37

-4.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₱130

$2.16 ₱133

-2.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.3

$1.16 ₱71.8

-6.03%

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

$25.9K ₱1.6M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

-1.04%

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

$20.5K ₱1.3M

$22.7K ₱1.4M

-9.61%

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

$162 ₱9,960

$138 ₱8,529

16.78%

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

$33.55 ₱2,068

$22.24 ₱1,371

50.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.44 ₱1,877

$27.71 ₱1,709

9.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.19 ₱2,108

$41.41 ₱2,554

-17.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ₱425

Cinema Ticket

$7.18 ₱443

$6.58 ₱406

9.12%

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

$82.4 ₱5,084

$357 ₱22.0K

-76.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,784 ₱171.7K

$11.5K ₱707.3K

-75.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.32 ₱1,068

$46.42 ₱2,862

-62.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.70 ₱1,831

$35.12 ₱2,166

-15.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 ₱6,000

$82.4 ₱5,081

18.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.9 ₱5,728

$45.78 ₱2,823

102.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$126 ₱7,768

$500 ₱30.8K

-74.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 ₱11.1K

$265 ₱16.3K

-32.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 ₱35.6K

$1,684 ₱103.8K

-65.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱24.5K

$636 ₱39.2K

-37.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,370 ₱269.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 ₱156.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$290 ₱17.9K

$481 ₱29.7K

-39.62%

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 San Pablo: May 30, 2026

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $126 in San Pablo 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 66% 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 $14.00 in San Pablo versus $27.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $180 vs $242 – making San Pablo 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 Pablo vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $846 in San Pablo, $959 in Manila – roughly 13% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,269 per month in San Pablo 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 Pablo, 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 $846 in San Pablo and $959 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $82.4 per month in San Pablo and $357 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 Pablo, where all-in costs run around $846, than in Manila at $959. In San Pablo 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 $846 in San Pablo 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 Pablo. 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.