Cost of Living in Manila

Summary of cost of living in Manila, Philippines:

A family of four estimated monthly costs are 2,008.2€ (119,572.8₱) without rent (using our estimator).
A single person estimated monthly costs are 577.4€ (34,379.2₱) without rent.
Manila is 62.3% less expensive than New York (without rent, see our cost of living index).
Rent in Manila is, on average, 84.5% lower than in New York.

Restaurants	Edit	Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	4.20 €	2.02-8.40
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	28.55 €	20.15-83.97
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	3.36 €	3.02-5.04
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	1.18 €	0.84-2.52
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	2.27 €	1.51-3.36
Cappuccino (regular)	2.84 €	1.68-4.70
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	0.89 €	0.50-2.02
Water (12 oz small bottle)	0.42 €	0.34-1.34
Markets	Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	6.39 €	5.09-9.54
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	1.16 €	0.76-2.74
Rice (white), (1 lb)	0.41 €	0.30-0.61
Eggs (regular) (12)	1.86 €	1.33-2.62
Local Cheese (1 lb)	3.00 €	0.86-7.62
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	2.07 €	1.22-3.05
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	3.16 €	2.29-4.95
Apples (1 lb)	1.30 €	0.84-1.68
Banana (1 lb)	0.68 €	0.46-1.52
Oranges (1 lb)	1.31 €	0.91-1.90
Tomato (1 lb)	0.74 €	0.38-1.14
Potato (1 lb)	0.86 €	0.46-1.68
Onion (1 lb)	1.11 €	0.61-1.98
Lettuce (1 head)	1.43 €	0.67-2.52
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	0.70 €	0.42-1.34
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	8.40 €	4.20-13.44
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	1.17 €	0.76-1.68
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	1.40 €	0.84-2.02
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	2.69 €	2.22-3.36
Transportation	Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	0.50 €	0.34-0.84
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	9.78 €	8.40-22.17
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	0.67 €	0.67-0.92
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	0.36 €	0.32-0.43
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	2.02 €	2.02-2.44
Gasoline (1 gallon)	4.93 €	4.13-5.72
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	21,832.84 €	16,794.50-26,871.19
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	19,433.63 €	13,435.60-23,512.29
Utilities (Monthly)	Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	109.58 €	67.18-167.94
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	36.70 €	16.78-41.97
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	30.16 €	22.66-50.38
Sports And Leisure	Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	37.37 €	15.12-50.38
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	5.68 €	4.20-8.40
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	5.88 €	4.20-8.40
Childcare	Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	480.64 €	134.36-839.72
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	12,715.83 €	6,717.80-21,832.84
Clothing And Shoes	Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	32.43 €	13.42-50.38
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	27.95 €	8.40-41.99
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	65.39 €	41.99-109.16
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	60.46 €	25.19-109.16
Rent Per Month	Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	486.48 €	335.89-1,007.67
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	259.12 €	167.94-419.86
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	1,401.69 €	755.75-2,519.17
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	625.87 €	302.30-1,343.56
Buy Apartment Price	Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	382.26 €	312.05-585.09
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	250.75 €	234.04-280.84
Salaries And Financing	Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	449.96 €
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	8.25	6.00-10.00

Prices in Manila

This city had 1175 entries in the past 12 months by 214 different contributors.
Last update: October 2023

Sources and References

Insights (Premium)

Moving to Manila? Explore:

Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:

Nearby cities:

Cost of Living in Pasay	5.21 miles
Cost of Living in Mandaluyong	6.99 miles
Cost of Living in Makati	7.06 miles
Cost of Living in Dasmarinas	7.30 miles
Cost of Living in Quezon City	7.32 miles
Cost of Living in Valenzuela	10.08 miles
Cost of Living in Pasig	11.22 miles
Cost of Living in Cainta	11.89 miles
Cost of Living in Bacoor	12.87 miles
Cost of Living in Imus	14.50 miles

This page in other languages:

DeutschLebenshaltungskosten in Manila

PortuguêsCusto de Vida em Manila

ItalianoCosto della Vita a Manila

FrançaisCoût de la Vie à Manille

EspañolCosto de Vida en Manila

Leave a comment:

19 Comments so far

Anonymous on Mar 06, 2023:

Manila like all of Philippines is an open sewage pit just like it's women are.Theres nothing remotely attractive about either

Anonymous on Dec 13, 2022:

Prices in Manila are way more than what's displayed here which includes the rest of the Philippines.U S citizens retired in the Philippines will always pay double for everything no getting around it.I didn't retire in the Philippines not of retirement age yet.But staying for just two months showed me everything is double charged for I s citizens

Anonymous on Aug 25, 2022:

You must be an idiot to not know all Filipinas are gamers. The only reason they want american men is for a free pass into the u s.She and her family wore out your wallet. Filipinas are pros at manipulation. I visited Manila once they flocked around me like vultures but I never fed them.

Sammy on Jul 30, 2022:

I have been involved with filipinas in one form or another for more than 30 years. In fact I was married to one for over 30 years. That is until my usefulness came to an end with my advancing age. The stories I could tell about the goings on in the Philippines would fill an encyclopedia.The trouble with a relationship with a filipina is that you can never really be sure what they are thinking; my wife used to surprise me even after 20 years of marriage. The cultural differences are legendary. The truth often has no value; not long after first coming to the Philippines I saw a guy knifed to death at the markets about 10 meters in front of me. Sometime later I was traveling in a jeepny along Roxas Bld and there was a dead girl lying on top of a rubbish heap.If they think that you do not understand tagalog they will insult you to your face and smile at the same time.All prices are 2-3 times the local price. Personally I would forget about living full time there.Just to many ways for things to go pear shaped. Watch the online videos from seasoned people in the know.

Anonymous on Jan 12, 2022:

I'm a European married to a Philippina on a 3A marriage visa.On January 3 2022 the Philippine government revoked all 3A marriage visas for foreigners so I had to leave the Philippines on January 9 2022.I lived in the Philippines for 3.5 years bought a house paid for it.The governments reason for revoking 3A marriage visas said too many foreigners are living in the Philippines on 3A visas.Meanwhile my wife is in the Philippines and I'm back in London.No timeline was given to reinstate 3A visas.To those planning on marrying someone from the Philippines beware because the Philippine government changes their minds at a moments notice as they wish no matter any hardships it may cause.

Anonymous on Dec 31, 2021:

All Philippine citizens will be sent back to the Philippines regardless of their status living in the United States. The Philippine government has been making plans behind the United States governments back for sometime now with China and the United States government knows about it. All Philippine citizens including all Philippine government employees are banned for life from entering the United States.

Anonymous on Nov 24, 2021:

Men that are white u s citizens really don't care about giving philippinas love nor should they either. Philippianas are our toilet while on vacation.

Sgt.Rosell on Jul 14, 2021:

Why are all these comments anonymous…Got no balls to have a name…chicken shts…

Anonymous on Apr 03, 2021:

Ley have u found any rich white unhealthy white men that respond to this deal u offer?

Anonymous on Jan 08, 2021:

I've never visited the Philippines but friends told me they did but I won't disclose their negative experiences while visiting the Philippines which was everything.Since the majority of people refuse to be cordial to each other maybe they should stay at home.

Peace out

Ryan Van Tor on Dec 23, 2020:

I have live for more than 4 years in each f these cities: Johannesburg, London, Dubai, Doha, and Manila. Manila is the second worst city I have lived in for the following reasons:

- The city is VERY polluted, even the rich areas are often right next to a polluted, sewage infested river. Every rive in the city is toxic.
- The air quality is VERY poor
- The people are friendly but mostly poor, kind of gullible, uneducated
- Salaries are VERY low, you will not be able to find decent work to even pay for your rent.
- It is as hot as hell

Lisa Belle on Dec 20, 2020:

Hey, one and all.

Considering how lucky I am to live in such a rather economically advantageous situation in the USA.... Thought i want to share a piece of my luck... by giving out a 100 American dollars to a random needy family living in the Philippines... PROVIDED that they set up their own PayPal account.

I will send this lucky needy family the 100 US dollars ONLY via PayPal. These funds will be sent to their respective PayPal on September 30, 2021.

This act of unselfish generosity happens once a year, each September 30....

First come, first served!!!

I go by Lisa Belle on Facebook. I was born in Lucena City.

Anonymous on Nov 29, 2020:

Here's a simple solution concerning costs and political agendas in the Philippines. Don't move to the Philippines go elsewhere to avoid the nonsense.

John on Jun 07, 2020:

How about prices in the Provinces?
Where I live in Leyte the prices are higher than in Manila.

thanks, John

Anonymous on May 28, 2020:

Expensive place, considering poorly maintained infrastructure.

Those calling for price & rent controls here, read basic economics books, such as Hazlitt "Economics in One Lesson".

It's usually government policies and political cronyism that lead to unaffordability for local population.

Too many examples in Phils - one is the incredible cost of internet access of very low quality.

If you've dealt with customs (government) ripoffs involving their DHL cronies, you know how much they increase costs of goods not even produced in Phils...

It's frustrating and unfair to locals, but government meddling in markets through high taxation and regulation load on businesses literally creates the related problems they are intended to solve.

Price and rent controls only lead to higher prices and shortages. It's basic economics.

Anonymous on Mar 21, 2020:

I am stating about investing properties in the Philippines as per comment below.

Anonymous on Mar 21, 2020:

I think the rental situation in Manila is worsen and unaffordable to people who are earning P30k monthly for a couple with no kid.

I observed that real estate agents travel to any part of the world to sell condominium units to balikbayans and promise a huge return for investing real estates in the Phils without considering average Filipino workers. I would say the condominium unit rentals in Manila is based from what they learn from overseas rental prices and it makes you sick as not everyone in the Philippines make or earn $.

Ordinary people in overseas like US earn and pocketing at least US $3K per month and that will be at least P150K in Filipino peso.

Compare to what ordinary Filipino worker earns at least P15K per month, working in a call centre in the Philippines, see a huge difference.

Hoping for the change and government should have a control of the rental price rise.

Anonymous on Nov 01, 2019:

everything is to expensive compare with you salary
many products are more expensiv than in abroad
no price control
water electric meat more expensiv than abroad

Anonymous on Oct 15, 2019:

my dad moved to Manila in August. He gets about 2200.00 a month, he and his wife have a 2 story home that is 300.00 US monthly. He has been in the hospital with pneumonia, but is now home, he said he is broke and has to decide daily weather to buy food or medicine. Where did all his money go? Plus, family sold his van here, sent that money to him, other family sent 300 one month, 600 this month. WHERE IS IT ALL GOING??? Surely not all the dr and hospital!! I don't get it. He's too weak now to come home, plus, too broke!

About In the News Newsletter API

URL:
Description:


Your Email Address: