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: $796 in Santa Ana versus $908 in Muntinlupa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,242 in Santa Ana versus $1,443 in Muntinlupa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,688 in Santa Ana versus $1,978 in Muntinlupa.

Living in Santa Ana costs roughly 12% 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

$2.48 $2.48

$4.86 ₱300

-48.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.11 $18.11

$26.26 ₱1,619

-31.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.89 $4.89

$3.10 ₱191

57.74%

Cappuccino

$1.96 $1.96

$2.61 ₱161

-24.90%

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

$0.68 $0.68

$0.93 ₱57.5

-26.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.46 ₱28.06

26.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.39 ₱85.7

48.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.60 ₱160

-2.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.95 ₱120

-3.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.30 ₱79.9

51.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.04 ₱64.2

44.23%

Eggs

$2.80 $2.80

$1.97 ₱121

42.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.85 $6.85

$6.94 ₱428

-1.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 $6.57

$4.65 ₱287

41.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.71 $10.71

$7.39 ₱456

44.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.88 ₱239

-19.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.63 ₱100

6.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.90 ₱179

-8.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.40 ₱148

13.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.79 ₱172

-21.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$3.15 ₱194

-30.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 $0.94

$2.04 ₱126

-53.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.00 ₱61.7

6.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.09 $4.09

$3.15 ₱194

29.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 $10.92

$8.87 ₱547

23.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.54 ₱95.1

11.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.95 ₱120

27.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.26 ₱15.88

11.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.26 ₱879

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.34 $5.34

$0.81 ₱50.1

559.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.96 $2.96

$0.22 ₱13.56

1245.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.27 $20.27

$2.15 ₱133

842.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.11 ₱68.6

-9.01%

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

$23.2K $23.2K

$25.4K ₱1.6M

-8.62%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$20.4K ₱1.3M

36.88%

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

$39.54 $39.54

$136 ₱8,365

-70.86%

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

$18.82 $18.82

$21.84 ₱1,347

-13.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.23 $39.23

$30.19 ₱1,861

29.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.29 $35.29

$49.51 ₱3,053

-28.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.40 ₱271

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 $4.93

$6.68 ₱412

-26.20%

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

$145 $145

$113 ₱6,996

27.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,937 $5,937

$4,642 ₱286.2K

27.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 $65.9

$45.94 ₱2,833

43.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.58 $42.58

$35.22 ₱2,172

20.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$97.2 ₱5,996

17.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

$95.3 ₱5,878

10.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$301 $301

$402 ₱24.8K

-25.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 $150

$207 ₱12.8K

-27.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$504 $504

$1,162 ₱71.6K

-56.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 $294

$437 ₱27.0K

-32.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,468 ₱152.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$975 ₱60.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$450 $450

$630 ₱38.8K

-28.60%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Muntinlupa: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $301 in Santa Ana and $402 in Muntinlupa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Muntinlupa pays 40% 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 $26.00 in Muntinlupa. Groceries flip the comparison at $254 vs $228, 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 14% 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, Muntinlupa earns 40% less. 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: $301 in Santa Ana versus $402 in Muntinlupa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Muntinlupa pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $796 per month in Santa Ana versus $908 in Muntinlupa – a 14% 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 14% less than in Muntinlupa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.