Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz, Laguna and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz, Laguna and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $738 per month in Santa Cruz, Laguna vs $959 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,156 per month in Santa Cruz, Laguna vs $1,528 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,574 per month in Santa Cruz, Laguna vs $2,097 in Manila, rent included.

Santa Cruz, Laguna is about 23% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Santa Cruz, Laguna and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Santa Cruz, Laguna 45% lower, Manila 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.80 ₱111

$5.38 ₱332

-66.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.66 ₱534

$26.83 ₱1,655

-67.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.05 ₱188

$4.34 ₱267

-29.72%

Cappuccino

$2.19 ₱135

$2.75 ₱169

-20.36%

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

$0.43 ₱26.47

$0.96 ₱58.9

-55.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₱15.85

$0.50 ₱30.56

-48.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.27 ₱78.4

$1.49 ₱92.0

-14.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.7

$2.61 ₱161

-58.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 ₱111

$1.89 ₱116

-4.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱74.5

$1.38 ₱85.3

-12.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.0

$1.05 ₱64.7

1.90%

Eggs

$1.74 ₱107

$2.18 ₱135

-20.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.38 ₱332

$9.61 ₱593

-44.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 ₱266

$5.19 ₱320

-16.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.16 ₱442

$8.32 ₱513

-13.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 ₱97.1

$3.50 ₱216

-55.14%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 ₱31.34

$1.80 ₱111

-71.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 ₱96.2

$3.58 ₱221

-56.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.69 ₱104

$2.49 ₱154

-32.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$2.76 ₱170

3.62%

Onion (1kg)

$4.16 ₱256

$3.03 ₱187

37.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 ₱96.3

$2.01 ₱124

-22.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₱64.2

$0.64 ₱39.57

62.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱196

$3.32 ₱205

-4.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.92 ₱550

$9.74 ₱601

-8.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₱95.3

$1.49 ₱92.1

3.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ₱122

$2.15 ₱133

-7.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.84

$0.52 ₱31.91

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.63

$0.86 ₱53.2

-10.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.53

$0.25 ₱15.37

-12.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.16 ₱133

1.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱67.1

$1.16 ₱71.8

-6.03%

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

$25.4K ₱1.6M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

-3.00%

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

$20.4K ₱1.3M

$22.7K ₱1.4M

-10.33%

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

$94.5 ₱5,826

$138 ₱8,529

-31.69%

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

$33.54 ₱2,068

$22.24 ₱1,371

50.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.99 ₱1,849

$27.71 ₱1,709

8.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.24 ₱2,111

$41.41 ₱2,554

-17.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.49 ₱277

$6.89 ₱425

-34.83%

Cinema Ticket

$6.91 ₱426

$6.58 ₱406

5.02%

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

$81.2 ₱5,005

$357 ₱22.0K

-77.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,818 ₱173.7K

$11.5K ₱707.3K

-75.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.30 ₱1,992

$46.42 ₱2,862

-30.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.26 ₱1,804

$35.12 ₱2,166

-16.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 ₱5,998

$82.4 ₱5,081

18.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.8 ₱5,719

$45.78 ₱2,823

102.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$271 ₱16.7K

$500 ₱30.8K

-45.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 ₱11.0K

$265 ₱16.3K

-32.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 ₱35.7K

$1,684 ₱103.8K

-65.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$399 ₱24.6K

$636 ₱39.2K

-37.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,557 ₱157.7K

$4,370 ₱269.4K

-41.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,067 ₱65.8K

$2,544 ₱156.9K

-58.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

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 Santa Cruz, Laguna: June 2, 2026

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $271 in Santa Cruz, Laguna 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Santa Cruz, Laguna versus $27.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $242 – making Santa Cruz, Laguna 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

Santa Cruz, Laguna vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $738 in Santa Cruz, Laguna, $959 in Manila – roughly 30% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,107 per month in Santa Cruz, Laguna 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 Santa Cruz, Laguna, 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 $738 in Santa Cruz, Laguna and $959 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $81.2 per month in Santa Cruz, Laguna 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 Santa Cruz, Laguna, where all-in costs run around $738, than in Manila at $959. In Santa Cruz, Laguna 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 $738 in Santa Cruz, Laguna 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 Santa Cruz, Laguna. 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.