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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Manila is roughly 60% more expensive than Bataan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 ₱331

$1.46 ₱88.5

273.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 ₱1,596

$17.76 ₱1,078

47.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱263

$3.03 ₱184

42.57%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ₱164

$1.53 ₱93.1

77.12%

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

$0.91 ₱55.0

$0.88 ₱53.3

3.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.58

$0.26 ₱15.64

92.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 ₱91.0

$1.49 ₱90.3

0.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ₱160

$2.70 ₱164

-2.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱115

$1.87 ₱114

1.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ₱83.8

$1.41 ₱85.6

-2.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱65.9

$1.01 ₱61.4

6.93%

Eggs

$2.14 ₱130

$1.99 ₱121

7.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 ₱578

$8.22 ₱499

15.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ₱324

$4.17 ₱253

27.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 ₱508

$10.49 ₱637

-20.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ₱206

$2.97 ₱180

14.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$2.19 ₱133

-16.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱222

$3.51 ₱213

4.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ₱151

$1.38 ₱83.9

80.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱169

$1.39 ₱84.1

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 ₱185

$2.64 ₱161

15.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 ₱124

$1.12 ₱67.8

82.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₱39.71

$0.52 ₱31.37

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ₱208

$2.54 ₱154

34.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱577

$8.67 ₱527

9.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₱87.5

$1.14 ₱69.4

26.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱130

$2.52 ₱153

-15.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.13

$0.28 ₱17.19

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 ₱719

$4.20 ₱255

182.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₱55.5

$0.82 ₱49.78

10.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.18

$0.24 ₱14.66

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱126

$2.19 ₱133

-5.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱70.3

$1.16 ₱70.6

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

$26.3K ₱1.6M

$28.1K ₱1.7M

-6.58%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$28.4K ₱1.7M

-21.32%

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

$136 ₱8,261

$53.0 ₱3,216

156.84%

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

$22.24 ₱1,350

$23.36 ₱1,419

-4.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.14 ₱1,648

$26.45 ₱1,606

2.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ₱2,559

$34.15 ₱2,074

23.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ₱418

$4.55 ₱276

51.21%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ₱400

$6.26 ₱380

5.11%

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

$362 ₱22.0K

$74.4 ₱4,515

386.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱681.7K

$4,398 ₱267.1K

155.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.99 ₱2,853

$46.18 ₱2,804

1.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.37 ₱2,148

$33.61 ₱2,041

5.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 ₱5,001

$68.7 ₱4,174

19.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.51 ₱2,824

$116 ₱7,049

-59.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₱29.8K

$95.6 ₱5,806

413.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 ₱16.3K

$58.4 ₱3,543

358.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 ₱104.8K

$312 ₱18.9K

453.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 ₱37.7K

$175 ₱10.6K

254.47%

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)

$487 ₱29.5K

$395 ₱24.0K

23.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.17

21.88%

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

Last update for Manila: June 7, 2026

Last update for Bataan: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $491 in Manila and $95.6 in Bataan. 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: $26.00 in Manila vs $18.00 in Bataan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $219 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

Manila vs Bataan: 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.

Manila pays 23% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $491 in Manila versus $95.6 in Bataan. 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, Manila and Bataan 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.