Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Vigan Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Vigan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $959 per month in Manila vs $736 in Vigan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,506 per month in Manila vs $1,092 in Vigan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,052 per month in Manila vs $1,448 in Vigan, rent included.

Manila costs about 30% more than Vigan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Vigan are more affordable than the global median – Manila 30% lower, Vigan 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 ₱341

$3.88 ₱244

39.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.54 ₱1,667

$16.63 ₱1,045

59.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱246

$1.79 ₱112

118.99%

Cappuccino

$2.51 ₱158

$1.76 ₱111

42.61%

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

$1.39 ₱87.1

$0.60 ₱37.45

131.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.4

$0.33 ₱20.97

151.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ₱73.2

$1.04 ₱65.1

11.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

$1.58 ₱99.2

73.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.59 ₱100

18.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱87.9

$1.15 ₱72.2

21.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱62.1

$1.03 ₱64.4

-3.88%

Eggs

$2.31 ₱145

$2.08 ₱131

11.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 ₱491

$5.15 ₱324

51.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱310

$3.47 ₱218

42.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.11 ₱447

$7.81 ₱491

-8.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ₱203

$2.29 ₱144

41.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₱119

$1.60 ₱100

18.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 ₱189

$2.32 ₱146

29.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱115

$1.02 ₱64.1

78.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 ₱139

$1.72 ₱108

29.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 ₱165

$1.77 ₱111

48.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 ₱136

$0.67 ₱41.92

223.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₱37.18

$0.49 ₱31.00

20.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ₱200

$2.92 ₱183

8.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₱598

$8.68 ₱545

9.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₱80.6

$0.91 ₱57.0

40.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱127

$2.05 ₱129

-1.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 ₱29.30

$0.26 ₱16.37

80.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.85 ₱807

$12.05 ₱757

6.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.34

$0.78 ₱48.80

-1.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.47

$0.23 ₱14.35

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

$1.89 ₱119

3.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ₱79.7

$1.20 ₱75.5

5.83%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

0.07%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.5K ₱1.2M

0.61%

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

$122 ₱7,651

$140 ₱8,825

-13.29%

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

$15.16 ₱952

$17.18 ₱1,080

-11.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 ₱1,508

$23.34 ₱1,467

2.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.61 ₱2,677

$30.92 ₱1,943

37.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.69 ₱358

$5.22 ₱328

9.00%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱433

$5.31 ₱334

29.57%

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

$618 ₱38.8K

$131 ₱8,221

372.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,864 ₱556.9K

$10.7K ₱674.6K

-17.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ₱3,665

$28.45 ₱1,787

105.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.91 ₱1,754

$19.51 ₱1,226

43.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 ₱4,889

$72.1 ₱4,527

7.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.5 ₱3,674

$54.7 ₱3,434

6.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₱34.2K

$298 ₱18.7K

82.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 ₱17.9K

$167 ₱10.5K

70.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱121.1K

$462 ₱29.0K

317.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 ₱42.3K

$395 ₱24.8K

70.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,397 ₱276.2K

$2,579 ₱162.0K

70.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,528 ₱158.8K

$1,164 ₱73.1K

117.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ₱29.9K

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 12, 2026

Last update for Vigan: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Manila versus $298 in Vigan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $17.00 in Vigan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $175 – making Vigan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Vigan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $959 in Manila, $736 in Vigan – roughly 30% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,439 per month in Manila and $1,104 in Vigan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Vigan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $959 in Manila and $736 in Vigan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 7% less in Vigan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Vigan, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Manila at $959. In Vigan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $736 in Vigan to $959 in Manila. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Vigan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.