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: $968 in Manila versus $665 in Batangas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,526 in Manila versus $973 in Batangas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,085 in Manila versus $1,282 in Batangas.

Living in Manila is roughly 46% more expensive than in Batangas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 27% lower, Batangas 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱332

$2.34 ₱143

130.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,609

$21.67 ₱1,330

20.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱265

$2.61 ₱160

65.52%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱163

$1.70 ₱104

55.88%

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

$0.96 ₱58.8

$0.82 ₱50.1

17.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.34

$0.37 ₱22.82

45.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.7

$0.98 ₱60.2

56.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$1.39 ₱85.6

96.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$2.11 ₱129

-9.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.7

$1.24 ₱76.4

7.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.8

$0.87 ₱53.6

25.29%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$1.89 ₱116

11.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱558

$4.98 ₱306

82.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱314

$4.23 ₱260

21.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱511

$7.08 ₱435

17.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱214

$2.65 ₱163

31.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱113

$1.54 ₱94.4

18.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$2.73 ₱168

33.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.70 ₱104

45.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$2.50 ₱153

7.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱190

$4.05 ₱249

-23.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$1.45 ₱89.1

37.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.86

$1.05 ₱64.5

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.89 ₱177

16.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱610

$7.91 ₱486

25.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.9

$0.86 ₱52.9

68.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱132

$2.05 ₱126

4.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.58

$0.26 ₱15.93

96.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱741

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.3

$0.83 ₱51.1

4.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.71

$0.25 ₱15.17

8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.19 ₱135

-4.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.2

$1.10 ₱67.8

2.73%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$26.0K ₱1.6M

2.20%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.4K ₱1.2M

13.12%

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

$136 ₱8,343

$162 ₱9,948

-16.14%

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

$22.22 ₱1,364

$19.09 ₱1,172

16.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,695

$29.60 ₱1,817

-6.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,624

$27.76 ₱1,704

53.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱432

$4.30 ₱264

63.72%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱409

$5.30 ₱325

25.85%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$79.9 ₱4,907

354.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱696.9K

$1,412 ₱86.7K

704.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,884

$17.48 ₱1,073

168.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,128

$27.00 ₱1,658

28.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,100

$61.0 ₱3,743

36.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,838

$43.85 ₱2,693

5.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱30.0K

$270 ₱16.6K

80.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.2K

$78.6 ₱4,826

234.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.7K

$178 ₱10.9K

858.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.5K

$106 ₱6,514

491.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱271.0K

$2,508 ₱154.0K

76.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱155.1K

$1,652 ₱101.4K

52.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.2K

$169 ₱10.4K

190.98%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Batangas: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $488 in Manila and $270 in Batangas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manila pays 191% 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 $22.00 in Batangas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $202 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 46% in total monthly costs ($968 vs $665 including rent). Batangas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 191% 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: $488 in Manila versus $270 in Batangas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Manila. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $968 per month in Manila versus $665 in Batangas – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $665 in Batangas versus $968 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 46% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.