😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,559 in Terrassa versus $842 in Mandaue.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,376 in Terrassa versus $1,202 in Mandaue.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,193 in Terrassa versus $1,562 in Mandaue.
🌍Living in Terrassa is roughly 85% more expensive than in Mandaue, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Terrassa is 13% above, Mandaue is 39% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Terrassa
Mandaue
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.33€13.18
$3.12₱195
391.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.7€49.59
$23.01₱1,439
150.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.58€10.81
$3.90₱244
222.56%
Cappuccino
$2.64€2.27
$2.51₱157
5.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44€2.10
$0.59₱36.76
313.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86€1.60
$0.50₱31.03
272.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.50€3.01
$1.78₱111
96.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62€3.98
$2.20₱138
110.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Terrassa
Mandaue
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.94₱122
-39.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50€1.29
$1.19₱74.4
26.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.52
$0.92₱57.7
91.30%
Eggs
$3.98€3.42
$2.06₱129
93.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.01€12.90
$9.95₱622
50.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.32€8.01
$4.46₱279
108.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.68€16.92
$7.39₱462
166.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.28
$3.31₱207
-19.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.47₱91.9
36.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$2.42₱151
-32.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.80€2.41
$1.55₱97.0
80.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.63
$2.36₱147
-19.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.89₱118
4.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59€1.36
$1.20₱74.9
32.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.63₱39.13
25.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.19€6.18
$2.47₱154
191.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.78€5.83
$6.37₱399
6.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.32
$1.24₱77.3
24.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52€2.16
$1.69₱105
49.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Terrassa
Mandaue
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.65€1.42
$0.24₱14.86
587.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.87€19.66
$10.58₱661
116.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.81
$0.78₱49.01
319.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57€1.35
$0.21₱13.09
647.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.09€12.97
$1.94₱121
677.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81€1.55
$1.27₱79.2
42.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K€31.4K
$21.3K₱1.3M
71.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K€26.5K
$19.7K₱1.2M
56.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Terrassa
Mandaue
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$119€102
$99.6₱6,229
19.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.65€13.46
$14.83₱927
5.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.72€31.57
$28.47₱1,781
28.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Terrassa
Mandaue
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.03€30.12
$31.87₱1,993
9.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$5.02₱314
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.86€9.33
$5.69₱356
90.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Terrassa
Mandaue
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457€393
$136₱8,512
235.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3K€8,870
$8,067₱504.5K
27.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Terrassa
Mandaue
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.0€55.9
$32.04₱2,004
102.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.17€19.06
$19.34₱1,210
14.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€92.5
$78.5₱4,911
37.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€105
$58.8₱3,674
108.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Terrassa
Mandaue
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$876€753
$440₱27.5K
99.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$611€526
$252₱15.8K
142.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,143€983
$754₱47.1K
51.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,039€893
$356₱22.2K
192.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,927€2,516
$2,943₱184.0K
-0.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,218€1,906
$1,157₱72.4K
91.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Terrassa
Mandaue
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,353€2,023
$244₱15.3K
863.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
7.2
-54.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Terrassa: August 29, 2026
Last update for Mandaue: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $876 in Terrassa and $440 in Mandaue. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Terrassa pays 863% 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: $58.0 in Terrassa vs $23.00 in Mandaue for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $206 per month, with Mandaue cheaper across the board.
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
Terrassa vs Mandaue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Terrassa or Mandaue?
Mandaue wins on cost – living expenses run 85% lower than in Terrassa. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mandaue the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Terrassa or in Mandaue?
Average pay runs 863% higher in Terrassa, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Terrassa compared to Mandaue?
Rent for a central apartment: $876 in Terrassa versus $440 in Mandaue. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Terrassa and in Mandaue?
Dining out is cheaper in Mandaue – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $58.0 in Terrassa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Terrassa compared to Mandaue?
All in, you'll spend $1,559 per month in Terrassa versus $842 in Mandaue – a 85% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Terrassa or in Mandaue?
At $842 in Mandaue versus $1,559 in Terrassa, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mandaue but tight or insufficient in Terrassa. The gap between the two cities makes Mandaue the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Terrassa or Mandaue?
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.
How safe is Terrassa compared to Mandaue?
Safety-wise, Terrassa and Mandaue are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mandaue gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% less than in Terrassa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.