- date_default_timezone_set: documentation ( source)
<?php
date_default_timezone_set('Asia/Tokyo'); // you are required to set a timezone
$date1 = new DateTime('2013-03-01');
$date2 = new DateTime('2013-04-01');
$diff = $date1->diff($date2);
echo (($diff->format('%y') * 12) + $diff->format('%m')) . " full months difference";