Cost of Living Comparison Between Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $755 per month in Subic Bay Freeport Zone vs $959 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,282 per month in Subic Bay Freeport Zone vs $1,528 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,809 per month in Subic Bay Freeport Zone vs $2,097 in Manila, rent included.

Subic Bay Freeport Zone is about 21% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Subic Bay Freeport Zone 44% lower, Manila 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.53 ₱279

$5.38 ₱332

-15.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.23 ₱1,001

$26.83 ₱1,655

-39.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.65 ₱225

$4.34 ₱267

-15.90%

Cappuccino

$2.54 ₱157

$2.75 ₱169

-7.64%

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

$0.85 ₱52.5

$0.96 ₱58.9

-11.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.91

$0.50 ₱30.56

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱91.9

$1.49 ₱92.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₱146

$2.61 ₱161

-9.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.89 ₱116

-4.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱93.3

$1.38 ₱85.3

9.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 ₱58.6

$1.05 ₱64.7

-9.52%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.18 ₱135

-5.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.14 ₱502

$9.61 ₱593

-15.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$5.19 ₱320

0.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.83 ₱853

$8.32 ₱513

66.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ₱182

$3.50 ₱216

-15.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 ₱109

$1.80 ₱111

-2.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.43 ₱88.0

$3.58 ₱221

-60.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 ₱70.5

$2.49 ₱154

-54.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.73 ₱107

$2.76 ₱170

-37.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$3.03 ₱187

-52.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ₱65.7

$2.01 ₱124

-46.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.0

$0.64 ₱39.57

29.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.50 ₱154

$3.32 ₱205

-24.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.84 ₱484

$9.74 ₱601

-19.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.4

$1.49 ₱92.1

-44.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₱141

$2.15 ₱133

6.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.50

$0.52 ₱31.91

-57.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.12 ₱1,117

$12.00 ₱740

51.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 ₱45.08

$0.86 ₱53.2

-15.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.67

$0.25 ₱15.37

8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₱129

$2.16 ₱133

-2.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.3

$1.16 ₱71.8

-4.31%

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

$27.9K ₱1.7M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

6.40%

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

$17.4K ₱1.1M

$22.7K ₱1.4M

-23.41%

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

$129 ₱7,980

$138 ₱8,529

-6.44%

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

$10.92 ₱673

$22.24 ₱1,371

-50.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.27 ₱1,127

$27.71 ₱1,709

-34.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.14 ₱1,920

$41.41 ₱2,554

-24.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.55 ₱281

$6.89 ₱425

-33.96%

Cinema Ticket

$7.54 ₱465

$6.58 ₱406

14.59%

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

$150 ₱9,227

$357 ₱22.0K

-58.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,384 ₱270.3K

$11.5K ₱707.3K

-61.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.58 ₱2,811

$46.42 ₱2,862

-1.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.62 ₱2,135

$35.12 ₱2,166

-1.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.5 ₱4,163

$82.4 ₱5,081

-18.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₱7,137

$45.78 ₱2,823

152.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$141 ₱8,710

$500 ₱30.8K

-71.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.0 ₱5,424

$265 ₱16.3K

-66.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 ₱22.6K

$1,684 ₱103.8K

-78.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 ₱29.1K

$636 ₱39.2K

-25.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,350 ₱144.9K

$4,370 ₱269.4K

-46.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,066 ₱65.8K

$2,544 ₱156.9K

-58.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 ₱29.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

7.52

-17.95%

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

Last update for Subic Bay Freeport Zone: May 31, 2026

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $141 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 $16.00 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone versus $27.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $242 – making Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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

Subic Bay Freeport Zone vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $755 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, $959 in Manila – roughly 27% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,132 per month in Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 Subic Bay Freeport Zone, 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 $755 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone and $959 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 51% less in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, where all-in costs run around $755, than in Manila at $959. In Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 $755 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 Subic Bay Freeport Zone. 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.