Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Batangas Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Batangas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $963 in Manila versus $651 in Batangas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,522 in Manila versus $969 in Batangas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,081 in Manila versus $1,288 in Batangas.

Living in Manila is roughly 48% more expensive than Batangas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 28% lower, Batangas 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$2.43 ₱150

121.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$20.88 ₱1,288

28.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$2.59 ₱160

75.29%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$1.72 ₱106

52.33%

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

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.83 ₱51.3

18.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.37 ₱22.86

45.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.02 ₱62.8

45.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$1.34 ₱82.4

103.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$2.08 ₱128

-5.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.20 ₱73.9

16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$0.90 ₱55.6

14.44%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$1.85 ₱114

11.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$4.79 ₱296

90.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$4.16 ₱257

25.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$7.33 ₱452

18.69%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$2.61 ₱161

30.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.57 ₱97.1

15.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$2.60 ₱160

40.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.62 ₱100

55.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$2.52 ₱155

11.51%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$4.13 ₱255

-25.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$1.40 ₱86.3

42.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$1.02 ₱62.6

-32.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$2.91 ₱179

18.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

$7.43 ₱458

34.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$0.92 ₱56.5

61.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.96 ₱121

11.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.26 ₱15.82

84.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.77 ₱47.56

20.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.27 ₱16.68

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.08 ₱128

3.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.09 ₱67.0

2.75%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$25.4K ₱1.6M

4.46%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

11.13%

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

$135 ₱8,306

$166 ₱10.2K

-18.80%

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

$22.00 ₱1,357

$19.22 ₱1,186

14.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$29.85 ₱1,841

-6.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$27.00 ₱1,665

55.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$4.56 ₱281

53.51%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$5.17 ₱319

30.17%

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

$365 ₱22.5K

$82.9 ₱5,111

340.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$1,392 ₱85.9K

730.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$17.53 ₱1,081

167.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$26.41 ₱1,629

32.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$63.3 ₱3,902

29.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$44.55 ₱2,748

3.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$267 ₱16.5K

82.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$80.4 ₱4,961

235.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$177 ₱10.9K

850.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$108 ₱6,680

481.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

$2,586 ₱159.5K

67.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

$1,646 ₱101.5K

60.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

$169 ₱10.4K

168.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

8.13

-7.50%

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

Last update for Manila: April 27, 2026

Last update for Batangas: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $489 in Manila and $267 in Batangas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 168% 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 $21.00 in Batangas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $199 per month, with Batangas 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 Batangas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manila and Batangas differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($963 vs $651 including rent). Batangas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Manila pays 168% 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 $267 in Batangas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Manila. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $963 per month in Manila versus $651 in Batangas – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $651 in Batangas versus $963 in Manila, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Batangas but tight or insufficient in Manila. The gap between the two cities makes Batangas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Manila and Batangas 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 Batangas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.