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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $870 per month in Santiago City vs $927 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,357 per month in Santiago City vs $1,501 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,844 per month in Santiago City vs $2,074 in Manila, rent included.

Santiago City is about 6% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Santiago City and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Santiago City 37% lower, Manila 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.39 ₱398

$5.16 ₱322

23.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.81 ₱2,483

$25.86 ₱1,613

53.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.56 ₱284

$3.93 ₱245

16.03%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱165

$2.52 ₱157

5.16%

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

$1.12 ₱70.0

$1.36 ₱84.6

-17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱30.37

$0.83 ₱51.8

-40.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱146

$1.13 ₱70.4

107.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 ₱196

$2.74 ₱171

14.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ₱114

$1.90 ₱118

-3.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ₱81.1

$1.43 ₱89.1

-9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱66.3

$0.98 ₱61.1

8.16%

Eggs

$1.43 ₱89.3

$2.23 ₱139

-35.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.27 ₱453

$7.99 ₱498

-9.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 ₱301

$4.69 ₱292

2.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.95 ₱433

$6.81 ₱424

2.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 ₱145

$3.32 ₱207

-29.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱123

$1.83 ₱114

8.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 ₱205

$2.98 ₱186

10.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 ₱143

$1.86 ₱116

23.66%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 ₱217

$2.26 ₱141

53.98%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱224

$2.70 ₱168

32.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ₱67.0

$2.10 ₱131

-49.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.83

$0.56 ₱34.65

-5.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.59 ₱162

$3.20 ₱200

-19.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.98 ₱498

$9.61 ₱599

-16.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₱85.9

$1.32 ₱82.6

4.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₱129

$2.10 ₱131

-1.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ₱16.91

$0.46 ₱28.89

-41.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.15 ₱695

$12.68 ₱791

-12.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 ₱41.45

$0.83 ₱52.1

-20.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.37

$0.23 ₱14.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱122

$1.86 ₱116

5.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.6

$1.24 ₱77.1

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

$21.6K ₱1.3M

$21.3K ₱1.3M

1.15%

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

$19.8K ₱1.2M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

2.43%

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

$153 ₱9,540

$122 ₱7,607

25.41%

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

$16.42 ₱1,024

$14.83 ₱925

10.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.65 ₱1,973

$23.95 ₱1,494

32.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.63 ₱2,035

$42.46 ₱2,648

-23.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.83 ₱301

$5.79 ₱361

-16.58%

Cinema Ticket

$7.07 ₱441

$6.88 ₱429

2.76%

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

$135 ₱8,394

$621 ₱38.7K

-78.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,574 ₱472.3K

$8,865 ₱552.8K

-14.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.56 ₱2,030

$57.5 ₱3,586

-43.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.82 ₱1,236

$28.04 ₱1,749

-29.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 ₱5,044

$77.6 ₱4,840

4.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.4 ₱3,516

$57.9 ₱3,609

-2.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 ₱16.6K

$534 ₱33.3K

-50.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 ₱10.9K

$287 ₱17.9K

-38.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 ₱31.5K

$1,928 ₱120.2K

-73.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₱22.1K

$664 ₱41.4K

-46.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,628 ₱163.9K

$4,356 ₱271.6K

-39.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 ₱66.0K

$2,555 ₱159.3K

-58.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

7.43

0.94%

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

Last update for Santiago City: September 8, 2026

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $266 in Santiago City versus $534 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 $40.00 in Santiago City versus $26.00 in Manila. Groceries tell a different story – $212 in Santiago City vs $220 in Manila – so Santiago City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Santiago City vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $870 in Santiago City, $927 in Manila – roughly 7% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,304 per month in Santiago City and $1,391 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santiago City, 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 $870 in Santiago City and $927 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 14% less in Santiago City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Santiago City, where all-in costs run around $870, than in Manila at $927. In Santiago City 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 $870 in Santiago City to $927 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 Santiago City. 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.