Cost of Living Comparison Between Zamboanga and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Zamboanga and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $745 per month in Zamboanga vs $959 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,076 per month in Zamboanga vs $1,528 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,408 per month in Zamboanga vs $2,097 in Manila, rent included.

Zamboanga is about 22% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Zamboanga and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Zamboanga 44% lower, Manila 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.55 ₱95.5

$5.38 ₱332

-71.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.47 ₱584

$26.83 ₱1,655

-64.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.73 ₱168

$4.34 ₱267

-37.10%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ₱111

$2.75 ₱169

-34.18%

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

$0.91 ₱56.0

$0.96 ₱58.9

-5.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱25.84

$0.50 ₱30.56

-16.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ₱75.5

$1.49 ₱92.0

-18.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₱101

$2.61 ₱161

-37.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱120

$1.89 ₱116

2.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.65 ₱101

$1.38 ₱85.3

19.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 ₱79.2

$1.05 ₱64.7

21.90%

Eggs

$1.66 ₱102

$2.18 ₱135

-23.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.23 ₱692

$9.61 ₱593

16.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.51 ₱278

$5.19 ₱320

-13.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.57 ₱220

$8.32 ₱513

-57.09%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 ₱208

$3.50 ₱216

-3.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 ₱81.2

$1.80 ₱111

-26.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 ₱260

$3.58 ₱221

17.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱166

$2.49 ₱154

7.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ₱85.0

$2.76 ₱170

-50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 ₱170

$3.03 ₱187

-8.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 ₱55.3

$2.01 ₱124

-55.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₱34.90

$0.64 ₱39.57

-10.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱185

$3.32 ₱205

-9.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.38 ₱270

$9.74 ₱601

-55.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 ₱90.4

$1.49 ₱92.1

-1.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₱134

$2.15 ₱133

1.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₱14.85

$0.52 ₱31.91

-53.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 ₱740

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.5

$0.86 ₱53.2

8.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.56

$0.25 ₱15.37

-12.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.16 ₱133

-2.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₱75.0

$1.16 ₱71.8

5.17%

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

$26.9K ₱1.7M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

2.61%

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

$20.7K ₱1.3M

$22.7K ₱1.4M

-8.94%

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

$167 ₱10.3K

$138 ₱8,529

20.56%

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

$48.00 ₱2,960

$22.24 ₱1,371

115.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.8 ₱3,254

$27.71 ₱1,709

90.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.54 ₱2,438

$41.41 ₱2,554

-4.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.31 ₱266

$6.89 ₱425

-37.45%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱429

$6.58 ₱406

5.62%

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

$53.2 ₱3,283

$357 ₱22.0K

-85.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,223 ₱75.4K

$11.5K ₱707.3K

-89.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.61 ₱1,517

$46.42 ₱2,862

-46.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.58 ₱1,639

$35.12 ₱2,166

-24.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.5 ₱5,458

$82.4 ₱5,081

7.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.8 ₱3,808

$45.78 ₱2,823

34.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$140 ₱8,603

$500 ₱30.8K

-72.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$71.1 ₱4,384

$265 ₱16.3K

-73.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 ₱22.8K

$1,684 ₱103.8K

-78.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$143 ₱8,818

$636 ₱39.2K

-77.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,275 ₱140.3K

$4,370 ₱269.4K

-47.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,099 ₱67.7K

$2,544 ₱156.9K

-56.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$193 ₱11.9K

$481 ₱29.7K

-59.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

59.57%

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

Last update for Zamboanga: May 30, 2026

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $140 in Zamboanga 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.

Salaries run about 149% higher in Manila, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Zamboanga versus $27.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $242 – making Zamboanga 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

Zamboanga vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $745 in Zamboanga, $959 in Manila – roughly 29% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,117 per month in Zamboanga 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 Zamboanga, 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 $745 in Zamboanga and $959 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $53.2 per month in Zamboanga and $357 in Manila. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zamboanga, where all-in costs run around $745, than in Manila at $959. In Zamboanga 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 $745 in Zamboanga 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 Zamboanga. 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.