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: $927 in Manila versus $484 in Bataan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,501 in Manila versus $814 in Bataan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,074 in Manila versus $1,145 in Bataan.

Living in Manila is roughly 92% more expensive than in Bataan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 33% lower, Bataan 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱324

$1.32 ₱82.8

290.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,621

$16.47 ₱1,033

57.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱246

$2.79 ₱175

40.86%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱158

$1.34 ₱83.9

88.06%

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

$1.36 ₱85.1

$0.61 ₱38.05

122.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.1

$0.25 ₱15.72

232.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.8

$1.02 ₱63.7

10.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.61 ₱101

70.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱119

$1.67 ₱105

13.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.6

$1.16 ₱72.6

23.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$0.98 ₱61.2

Eggs

$2.23 ₱140

$1.73 ₱108

28.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱501

$5.22 ₱327

53.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱294

$3.02 ₱189

55.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱427

$8.10 ₱508

-15.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱208

$2.33 ₱146

42.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$1.57 ₱98.1

16.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱187

$2.34 ₱147

27.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.02 ₱64.2

82.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱142

$1.76 ₱110

28.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱169

$1.73 ₱109

56.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$0.67 ₱41.73

213.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.83

$0.49 ₱30.99

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱201

$2.18 ₱137

46.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱602

$8.64 ₱542

11.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱83.0

$0.97 ₱60.7

36.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱132

$2.01 ₱126

4.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱29.04

$0.47 ₱29.31

-2.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.82 ₱51.1

1.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.47

$0.25 ₱15.74

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱117

$1.86 ₱116

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.6

$1.02 ₱63.9

21.57%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

1.44%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

-0.20%

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

$122 ₱7,647

$48.26 ₱3,025

152.78%

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

$14.83 ₱930

$17.28 ₱1,083

-14.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,502

$23.20 ₱1,454

3.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,662

$26.70 ₱1,674

59.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱363

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱431

$5.17 ₱324

33.08%

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

$621 ₱38.9K

$67.3 ₱4,221

822.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱555.8K

$10.6K ₱663.9K

-16.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,604

$29.44 ₱1,846

95.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,758

$19.91 ₱1,248

40.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,866

$70.5 ₱4,421

10.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,628

$55.7 ₱3,492

3.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.5K

$167 ₱10.5K

219.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱18.0K

$52.8 ₱3,310

443.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$280 ₱17.6K

587.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.6K

$183 ₱11.5K

262.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱273.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱160.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.7K

$392 ₱24.6K

20.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.75

10.07%

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

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Last update for Bataan: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $534 in Manila and $167 in Bataan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 21% 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 $16.00 in Bataan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $173 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, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 92% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 21% higher in Manila, 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: $534 in Manila versus $167 in Bataan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $621 in Manila versus $67.3 in Bataan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bataan – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $26.00 in Manila. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $484 in Bataan versus $927 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 92% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.