Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Ana and Muntinlupa Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Ana and Muntinlupa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $787 in Santa Ana versus $907 in Muntinlupa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,254 in Santa Ana versus $1,445 in Muntinlupa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,721 in Santa Ana versus $1,982 in Muntinlupa.

Living in Santa Ana costs roughly 13% less than in Muntinlupa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santa Ana 41% lower, Muntinlupa 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.54 $2.54

$4.86 ₱299

-47.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.73 $17.73

$27.00 ₱1,662

-34.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.10 ₱191

63.55%

Cappuccino

$2.03 $2.03

$2.71 ₱167

-25.09%

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

$0.73 $0.73

$0.93 ₱57.5

-21.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.46 ₱28.10

34.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.45 ₱89.6

42.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.68 ₱165

-1.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.97 ₱121

-8.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.24 ₱76.1

58.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.04 ₱64.2

42.31%

Eggs

$2.85 $2.85

$2.02 ₱124

41.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.95 $6.95

$6.92 ₱426

0.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.89 $6.89

$4.77 ₱294

44.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 $10.86

$7.66 ₱471

41.78%

Apples (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$4.04 ₱249

-23.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.59 ₱97.6

8.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.96 ₱182

-11.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.42 ₱149

14.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.67 ₱164

-16.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$3.02 ₱186

-26.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.97 ₱121

-48.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.00 ₱61.7

7.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.09 $4.09

$3.13 ₱192

30.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.89 $11.89

$8.71 ₱536

36.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.55 ₱95.2

10.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.98 ₱122

23.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.28 ₱17.32

10.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.98 ₱861

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.43 $5.43

$0.81 ₱49.94

570.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.07 $3.07

$0.24 ₱14.79

1179.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.66 $19.66

$2.12 ₱130

827.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.10 ₱68.0

-13.64%

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

$23.3K $23.3K

$26.1K ₱1.6M

-10.82%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$20.7K ₱1.3M

36.07%

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

$40.38 $40.38

$139 ₱8,544

-70.90%

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

$19.11 $19.11

$21.53 ₱1,325

-11.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.83 $38.83

$30.18 ₱1,858

28.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.57 $34.57

$49.03 ₱3,019

-29.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.49 ₱277

Cinema Ticket

$5.06 $5.06

$6.59 ₱406

-23.22%

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

$148 $148

$115 ₱7,056

28.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,033 $6,033

$4,636 ₱285.4K

30.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 $65.9

$46.47 ₱2,861

41.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.77 $43.77

$34.50 ₱2,124

26.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$98.6 ₱6,069

18.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$95.1 ₱5,853

8.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$306 $306

$399 ₱24.5K

-23.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 $149

$210 ₱12.9K

-29.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 $499

$1,160 ₱71.4K

-56.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 $299

$438 ₱27.0K

-31.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,398 ₱147.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$966 ₱59.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$455 $455

$624 ₱38.4K

-27.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.58

7.52

14.10%

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

Last update for Santa Ana: July 12, 2026

Last update for Muntinlupa: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $306 in Santa Ana and $399 in Muntinlupa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Muntinlupa pays 37% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Santa Ana vs $27.00 in Muntinlupa. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $229, with Muntinlupa cheaper for home cooking.

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

Santa Ana vs Muntinlupa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Ana wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Muntinlupa. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Ana the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 37% lower in Muntinlupa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $306 in Santa Ana versus $399 in Muntinlupa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Muntinlupa pay roughly 13% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $787 per month in Santa Ana versus $907 in Muntinlupa – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Santa Ana gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Santa Ana and Muntinlupa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Santa Ana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Muntinlupa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.