Cost of Living Comparison Between Bataan and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Bataan and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $599 in Bataan versus $958 in Manila.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $990 in Bataan versus $1,515 in Manila.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,381 in Bataan versus $2,073 in Manila.

Living in Bataan costs roughly 37% less than in Manila, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bataan 55% lower, Manila 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.46 ₱88.5

$5.45 ₱331

-73.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.76 ₱1,078

$26.28 ₱1,596

-32.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.03 ₱184

$4.32 ₱263

-29.86%

Cappuccino

$1.53 ₱93.1

$2.71 ₱164

-43.54%

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

$0.88 ₱53.3

$0.91 ₱55.0

-3.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₱15.64

$0.50 ₱30.58

-48.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₱90.3

$1.50 ₱91.0

-0.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 ₱164

$2.63 ₱160

2.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ₱114

$1.89 ₱115

-1.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ₱85.6

$1.38 ₱83.8

2.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱61.4

$1.08 ₱65.9

-6.48%

Eggs

$1.99 ₱121

$2.14 ₱130

-7.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.22 ₱499

$9.52 ₱578

-13.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.17 ₱253

$5.33 ₱324

-21.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.49 ₱637

$8.37 ₱508

25.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 ₱180

$3.39 ₱206

-12.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 ₱133

$1.82 ₱111

20.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.51 ₱213

$3.66 ₱222

-4.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 ₱83.9

$2.49 ₱151

-44.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ₱84.1

$2.78 ₱169

-50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 ₱161

$3.05 ₱185

-13.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₱67.8

$2.04 ₱124

-45.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱31.37

$0.65 ₱39.71

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 ₱154

$3.42 ₱208

-25.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.67 ₱527

$9.50 ₱577

-8.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱69.4

$1.44 ₱87.5

-20.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 ₱153

$2.14 ₱130

17.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.19

$0.51 ₱31.13

-45.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.20 ₱255

$11.85 ₱719

-64.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱49.78

$0.91 ₱55.5

-9.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.66

$0.25 ₱15.18

-4.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 ₱133

$2.08 ₱126

5.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.6

$1.16 ₱70.3

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

$28.1K ₱1.7M

$26.3K ₱1.6M

7.05%

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

$28.4K ₱1.7M

$22.4K ₱1.4M

27.09%

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

$53.0 ₱3,216

$136 ₱8,261

-61.07%

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

$23.36 ₱1,419

$22.24 ₱1,350

5.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.45 ₱1,606

$27.14 ₱1,648

-2.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.15 ₱2,074

$42.15 ₱2,559

-18.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.55 ₱276

$6.88 ₱418

-33.87%

Cinema Ticket

$6.26 ₱380

$6.58 ₱400

-4.86%

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

$74.4 ₱4,515

$362 ₱22.0K

-79.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,398 ₱267.1K

$11.2K ₱681.7K

-60.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.18 ₱2,804

$46.99 ₱2,853

-1.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.61 ₱2,041

$35.37 ₱2,148

-4.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.7 ₱4,174

$82.4 ₱5,001

-16.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₱7,049

$46.51 ₱2,824

149.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$95.6 ₱5,806

$491 ₱29.8K

-80.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$58.4 ₱3,543

$268 ₱16.3K

-78.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$312 ₱18.9K

$1,726 ₱104.8K

-81.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 ₱10.6K

$621 ₱37.7K

-71.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,269 ₱259.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,574 ₱156.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$395 ₱24.0K

$487 ₱29.5K

-18.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

7.52

-17.95%

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

Last update for Bataan: June 7, 2026

Last update for Manila: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $95.6 in Bataan and $491 in Manila. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 23% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Bataan vs $26.00 in Manila for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $242 per month, with Bataan cheaper across the board.

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

Bataan vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bataan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Manila earns 23% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $95.6 in Bataan versus $491 in Manila. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Manila. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Bataan – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $26.00 in Manila. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $599 in Bataan versus $958 in Manila, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bataan but tight or insufficient in Manila. The gap between the two cities makes Bataan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Bataan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Manila, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Bataan and Manila are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bataan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.