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: $959 in Manila versus $627 in Batangas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,506 in Manila versus $917 in Batangas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,052 in Manila versus $1,206 in Batangas.

Living in Manila is roughly 53% more expensive than in Batangas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manila 30% lower, Batangas 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱341

$2.21 ₱138

145.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,664

$18.95 ₱1,189

40.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$2.66 ₱167

47.37%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱158

$2.03 ₱127

23.65%

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

$1.39 ₱87.0

$0.41 ₱25.81

239.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.3

$0.29 ₱18.26

186.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.0

$1.06 ₱66.7

9.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.48 ₱92.7

85.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱118

$1.74 ₱109

8.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.8

$1.13 ₱71.1

23.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱62.0

$0.79 ₱49.34

25.32%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$1.64 ₱103

40.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱490

$5.71 ₱358

36.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱309

$4.29 ₱269

14.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱446

$7.26 ₱456

-2.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$2.44 ₱153

32.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.39 ₱86.9

35.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.31 ₱145

30.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱114

$1.16 ₱72.9

56.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$2.28 ₱143

-2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱165

$3.41 ₱214

-23.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$1.30 ₱81.4

66.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.12

$0.96 ₱60.5

-38.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱199

$2.49 ₱156

27.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱597

$7.76 ₱487

22.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.5

$1.28 ₱80.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$1.85 ₱116

9.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.25

$0.70 ₱43.63

-32.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱806

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.26

$0.76 ₱47.59

1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.44

$0.21 ₱13.14

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

$2.47 ₱155

-20.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.5

$1.07 ₱67.1

18.69%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.9K ₱1.3M

2.79%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

2.95%

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

$122 ₱7,639

$164 ₱10.3K

-25.78%

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

$15.16 ₱951

$14.22 ₱892

6.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,505

$25.02 ₱1,569

-4.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,673

$19.28 ₱1,209

121.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱357

$12.90 ₱809

-55.89%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱432

$5.68 ₱356

21.13%

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

$618 ₱38.8K

$73.8 ₱4,628

737.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱555.9K

$1,284 ₱80.6K

590.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,658

$16.20 ₱1,016

260.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,751

$22.37 ₱1,403

24.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,881

$55.3 ₱3,469

40.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,667

$39.75 ₱2,493

47.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$70.3 ₱4,410

305.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$158 ₱9,931

1117.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.2K

$95.2 ₱5,971

606.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱275.8K

$2,592 ₱162.5K

69.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.5K

$1,605 ₱100.6K

57.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

$165 ₱10.3K

189.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

6.14%

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

Last update for Manila: September 12, 2026

Last update for Batangas: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Manila pays 189% 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 $19.00 in Batangas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 vs $190 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 53% in total monthly costs ($959 vs $627 including rent). Batangas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 189% higher in Manila, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Manila. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $959 per month in Manila versus $627 in Batangas – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $627 in Batangas versus $959 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 53% less than in Manila. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.