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: $963 in Manila versus $602 in Bataan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,522 in Manila versus $998 in Bataan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,081 in Manila versus $1,393 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 28% lower, Bataan 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$1.45 ₱89.7

271.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$17.40 ₱1,073

53.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$3.11 ₱192

45.98%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$1.55 ₱95.6

69.03%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.83 ₱51.2

18.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.26 ₱15.85

107.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.48 ₱91.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.61 ₱161

4.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$1.85 ₱114

5.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.41 ₱86.7

-0.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$0.93 ₱57.6

10.75%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$2.00 ₱123

3.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$8.08 ₱498

12.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$4.14 ₱256

25.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$10.46 ₱645

-16.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$2.88 ₱178

18.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.17 ₱134

-16.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$3.62 ₱223

1.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.40 ₱86.6

80.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$1.38 ₱85.1

103.62%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$2.62 ₱162

17.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$1.07 ₱66.1

85.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.54 ₱33.33

27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$2.44 ₱151

40.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$9.07 ₱559

10.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.09 ₱67.0

36.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.50 ₱154

-12.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.26 ₱15.94

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

$4.12 ₱254

187.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.78 ₱48.15

19.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.24 ₱14.82

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.07 ₱128

4.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.15 ₱71.2

-2.61%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$28.1K ₱1.7M

-5.44%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$28.9K ₱1.8M

-20.51%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$53.6 ₱3,303

151.42%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$23.22 ₱1,432

-5.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$25.98 ₱1,602

7.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$34.19 ₱2,109

22.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$4.39 ₱271

59.45%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$6.29 ₱388

7.00%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$75.0 ₱4,626

386.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$4,365 ₱269.2K

164.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$45.82 ₱2,826

2.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$33.61 ₱2,073

4.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$68.6 ₱4,232

19.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$113 ₱6,993

-59.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$95.7 ₱5,904

410.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$57.7 ₱3,560

367.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$305 ₱18.8K

452.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$172 ₱10.6K

266.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$414 ₱25.5K

9.32%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bataan: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $489 in Manila and $95.7 in Bataan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 9% 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: $27.00 in Manila vs $17.00 in Bataan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $218 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Manila pays 9% 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: $489 in Manila versus $95.7 in Bataan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% 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 $17.00 versus $27.00 in Manila. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $602 in Bataan versus $963 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.