Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago City and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago City and Manila

🙂 Solo nomad: Santiago City is 32.8% cheaper than Manila without rent, and 30.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santiago City is 40.7% cheaper than Manila without rent, and 34% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santiago City
Manila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.52 ₱380
$5.46 ₱318
19.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.03 ₱759
$27.09 ₱1,577
-51.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.51 ₱205
$4.38 ₱255
-19.86%
Cappuccino
$0.92 ₱53.3
$2.74 ₱160
-66.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₱44.45
$0.92 ₱53.3
-17.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₱17.81
$0.54 ₱31.39
-42.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.03 ₱60.2
$1.53 ₱88.8
-32.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 ₱102
$2.69 ₱157
-34.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santiago City
Manila
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ₱96.1
$1.90 ₱111
-13.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 ₱73.7
$1.40 ₱81.3
-9.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 ₱47.40
$1.04 ₱60.8
-22.12%
Eggs
$1.53 ₱89.1
$2.07 ₱120
-26.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.58 ₱150
$9.64 ₱561
-73.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.23 ₱188
$5.19 ₱302
-37.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.58 ₱325
$8.57 ₱499
-34.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 ₱158
$3.47 ₱202
-21.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 ₱59.9
$1.74 ₱101
-40.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.73 ₱42.46
$3.47 ₱202
-78.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 ₱85.9
$2.42 ₱141
-38.84%
Potato (1kg)
$3.35 ₱195
$2.67 ₱155
25.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.08 ₱62.9
$3.06 ₱178
-64.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.79 ₱46.26
$2.02 ₱118
-60.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 ₱55.1
$0.64 ₱37.06
48.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 ₱132
$3.43 ₱200
-34.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.19 ₱244
$10.13 ₱590
-58.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₱60.3
$1.51 ₱88.0
-31.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₱98.1
$2.11 ₱123
-20.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Santiago City
Manila
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₱16.49
$0.52 ₱30.16
-46.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$12.16 ₱708
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.82 ₱47.76
$0.85 ₱49.54
-3.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.13 ₱7.62
$0.27 ₱15.79
-51.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.49 ₱203
$2.10 ₱122
66.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₱63.5
$1.17 ₱67.9
-6.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K ₱1.3M
$26.4K ₱1.5M
-17.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.2K ₱1.0M
$22.4K ₱1.3M
-23.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago City
Manila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.4 ₱4,390
$137 ₱8,004
-45.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.99 ₱1,572
$21.63 ₱1,259
24.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.31 ₱1,357
$27.23 ₱1,586
-14.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santiago City
Manila
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.58 ₱1,955
$42.07 ₱2,450
-20.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.35 ₱253
$6.78 ₱395
-35.84%
Cinema Ticket
$5.45 ₱317
$6.81 ₱396
-19.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santiago City
Manila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$87.6 ₱5,101
$352 ₱20.5K
-75.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,349 ₱253.2K
$11.5K ₱669.7K
-62.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santiago City
Manila
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.71 ₱2,429
$47.19 ₱2,748
-11.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.66 ₱1,378
$34.63 ₱2,017
-31.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$52.7 ₱3,070
$82.2 ₱4,789
-35.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.78 ₱2,316
$47.17 ₱2,747
-15.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santiago City
Manila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$261 ₱15.2K
$499 ₱29.1K
-47.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$176 ₱10.2K
$272 ₱15.9K
-35.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$590 ₱34.3K
$1,739 ₱101.2K
-66.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$398 ₱23.2K
$625 ₱36.4K
-36.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,558 ₱149.0K
$4,647 ₱270.6K
-44.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$738 ₱43.0K
$2,691 ₱156.7K
-72.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santiago City
Manila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$234 ₱13.6K
$485 ₱28.3K
-51.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
7.52
-11.30%

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

Last update for Santiago City: February 28, 2026

Last update for Manila: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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