Cost of Living · PH vs US
🇵🇭 Manila vs 🇺🇸 New York: what everyday life costs
Monthly essentials: $697 in Philippines vs $2,410 in United States — 245.94% more expensive.
Biggest differences
Much cheaper in United States
- 🍻 Imported beer, 330ml bottle: 50.09%
- 👖 Jeans (mid-range brand): 50.15%
- 👟 Running shoes (brand): 50.15%
Closest to Philippines prices
- 🏢 Rent: 3-bedroom, city center: +314.77%
- 🏡 Rent: 1-bedroom, outside center: +314.77%
- 🏙️ Rent: 1-bedroom, city center: +314.77%
The full basket (32 items)
| Item | Philippines | United States | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| 🏙️ Rent: 1-bedroom, city center | $422 | $1,750 | +314.77% |
| 🏡 Rent: 1-bedroom, outside center | $338 | $1,400 | +314.77% |
| 🏢 Rent: 3-bedroom, city center | $772 | $3,200 | +314.77% |
| Food out | |||
| 🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $5.89 | $18.00 | +205.6% |
| 🍽️ Dinner for two, mid-range | $24.53 | $75.00 | +205.75% |
| 🍔 Fast-food combo meal | $3.98 | $11.00 | +176.38% |
| Groceries | |||
| 🥛 Milk, 1L | $0.49 | $1.10 | +124.49% |
| 🍞 Bread, fresh loaf 500g | $1.42 | $3.20 | +125.35% |
| 🥚 Eggs, dozen | $1.51 | $3.40 | +125.17% |
| 🍗 Chicken breast, 1kg | $4.44 | $10.00 | +125.23% |
| 🍚 White rice, 1kg | $1.77 | $4.00 | +125.99% |
| 🍎 Apples, 1kg | $2.13 | $4.80 | +125.35% |
| 🧀 Local cheese, 1kg | $5.32 | $12.00 | +125.56% |
| 💧 Water, 1.5L bottle | $0.89 | $2.00 | +124.72% |
| Drinks | |||
| 🍺 Domestic beer, pint (draught) | $1.96 | $6.00 | +206.12% |
| 🍻 Imported beer, 330ml bottle | $5.33 | $8.00 | +50.09% |
| ☕ Cappuccino | $1.64 | $5.00 | +204.88% |
| 🥤 Coke/Pepsi, 330ml | $1.02 | $2.30 | +125.49% |
| Transport | |||
| 🚇 Public transport, monthly pass | $23.53 | $65.00 | +176.24% |
| 🎫 Public transport, one-way | $1.00 | $2.75 | +175% |
| 🚕 Taxi start (normal tariff) | $1.31 | $4.00 | +205.34% |
| 🛣️ Taxi, per km | $0.59 | $1.80 | +205.08% |
| ⛽ Petrol/gasoline, 1L | $0.63 | $0.95 | +50.79% |
| Utilities & comms | |||
| 💡 Basic utilities, 85m² apartment | $72.40 | $200 | +176.24% |
| 🌐 Internet, 60Mbps+ unlimited | $25.34 | $70.00 | +176.24% |
| 📱 Mobile plan, 10GB+ data | $16.29 | $45.00 | +176.24% |
| Lifestyle | |||
| 🏋️ Gym membership, month | $16.35 | $50.00 | +205.81% |
| 🎬 Cinema seat | $4.58 | $14.00 | +205.68% |
| 💈 Men's haircut | $9.81 | $30.00 | +205.81% |
| 👖 Jeans (mid-range brand) | $36.63 | $55.00 | +50.15% |
| 👟 Running shoes (brand) | $59.94 | $90.00 | +50.15% |
| 💻 Coworking hot desk, month | $81.76 | $250 | +205.77% |
Estimated from World Bank — Consumption price levels with per-item elasticity — model figures, not quotes. Compare any pair in the interactive tool.
Related
Frequently asked questions
- How much more expensive is United States than Philippines?
- A single person's monthly essentials run about $2,410 in United States versus $697 in Philippines — 245.94% more. Rents differ the most; world-priced goods like petrol and electronics the least.
- What does a beer cost in United States?
- A domestic draught pint is roughly $6.00 in United States, versus about $1.96 in Philippines.
- How much is rent in United States compared to Philippines?
- A 1-bedroom city-center apartment is estimated at $1,750/month in United States versus $422/month in Philippines (+314.77%). Housing is the most locally-priced item in the basket.
- How are these prices estimated?
- Curated US baseline prices scaled by each country's purchasing-power price level with per-item elasticities (housing 1.4, services 1.1, groceries 0.8, world-priced goods 0.4) — model estimates for orientation, not quotes.