Cost of Living in Manila
Philippines
Monthly budget (single)
$985–$1,559/month
₱57,941 – ₱91,706 (local currency)
Last updated: 2026-03
Can you afford to live in Manila?
Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).
Cost breakdown
| Category | USD | Local currency |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city center) | $738–$1,149 | ₱43,412 – ₱67,588 |
| Rent (1-bed, outside center) | $390–$615 | ₱22,941 – ₱36,176 |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | $31–$59 | ₱1,824 – ₱3,471 |
| Internet & Mobile | $12–$21 | ₱706 – ₱1,235 |
| Groceries (monthly) | $156–$234 | ₱9,176 – ₱13,765 |
| Eating out (per meal, mid-range) | $21–$37 | ₱1,235 – ₱2,176 |
| Coffee | $2–$2 | ₱118 – ₱118 |
| Public transport (monthly pass) | $39–$47 | ₱2,294 – ₱2,765 |
| Gym membership | $14–$27 | ₱824 – ₱1,588 |
| Cinema ticket | $6–$7 | ₱353 – ₱412 |
Budget scenarios
Single
$985–$1,559/mo USD
₱57,941 – ₱91,706
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,149/mo
- Groceries: ~$234/mo
- Transport: ~$47/mo
Couple
$1,559–$2,379/mo USD
₱91,706 – ₱139,941
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,149/mo
- Groceries: ~$234/mo
- Transport: ~$47/mo
Family
$2,256–$3,487/mo USD
₱132,706 – ₱205,118
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,149/mo
- Groceries: ~$234/mo
- Transport: ~$47/mo
Neighbourhood guide
Manila Center
CentralUrban core, transit access
Est. 1-bed rent: $923–$1,436/mo (₱54,294 – ₱84,471)
Manila Midtown
CentralMixed residential
Est. 1-bed rent: $812–$1,264/mo (₱47,765 – ₱74,353)
Manila Outer
SuburbanQuieter, family-friendly
Est. 1-bed rent: $590–$919/mo (₱34,706 – ₱54,059)
Quality of life scores
Pros & cons
✅ Pros
- • English
- • BPO industry
- • Value
❌ Cons
- • Traffic
- • Flooding
Similar cities & cheaper alternatives
Similar cities
Cheaper alternatives
Compare Manila with another city
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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.