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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $968 per month in Manila vs $697 in Vigan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,526 per month in Manila vs $1,100 in Vigan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,085 per month in Manila vs $1,504 in Vigan, rent included.

Manila costs about 39% more than Vigan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Vigan are more affordable than the global median – Manila 27% lower, Vigan 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.40 ₱331

$3.60 ₱220

50.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.20 ₱1,604

$13.12 ₱803

99.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱264

$1.82 ₱111

137.36%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱162

$1.81 ₱111

46.41%

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

$0.96 ₱58.6

$0.69 ₱42.29

39.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.24

$0.38 ₱23.25

42.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 ₱93.4

$1.20 ₱73.6

27.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱167

$1.74 ₱106

56.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱116

$1.84 ₱113

3.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.5

$1.19 ₱73.1

11.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱66.6

$0.76 ₱46.47

43.42%

Eggs

$2.11 ₱129

$2.19 ₱134

-3.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 ₱556

$8.99 ₱551

1.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₱313

$3.87 ₱237

32.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.32 ₱509

$7.27 ₱445

14.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱213

$2.63 ₱161

32.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱112

$1.61 ₱98.6

13.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 ₱224

$2.30 ₱141

58.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱152

$1.16 ₱70.7

113.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 ₱164

$1.64 ₱101

63.41%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱189

$2.15 ₱131

43.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱122

$0.72 ₱43.78

176.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₱42.73

$0.76 ₱46.75

-7.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.27 ₱139

48.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 ₱609

$8.83 ₱541

12.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₱88.6

$1.08 ₱66.2

34.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.73 ₱106

24.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.48

$0.28 ₱17.32

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 ₱738

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.1

$0.68 ₱41.88

27.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.66

$0.17 ₱10.33

58.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₱128

$2.45 ₱150

-14.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.0

$1.11 ₱68.1

1.80%

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

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$14.0K ₱858.2K

89.30%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$16.2K ₱990.4K

42.33%

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

$136 ₱8,317

$53.6 ₱3,280

153.58%

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

$22.22 ₱1,360

$34.00 ₱2,081

-34.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 ₱1,690

$26.25 ₱1,607

5.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 ₱2,616

$34.16 ₱2,091

25.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ₱431

$4.51 ₱276

56.10%

Cinema Ticket

$6.67 ₱408

$5.87 ₱359

13.63%

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

$363 ₱22.2K

$36.00 ₱2,203

908.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₱694.8K

$4,816 ₱294.8K

135.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,875

$47.88 ₱2,931

-1.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 ₱2,122

$27.04 ₱1,655

28.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 ₱5,084

$61.4 ₱3,758

35.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.23 ₱2,830

$46.45 ₱2,843

-0.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₱29.9K

$262 ₱16.0K

86.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.1K

$175 ₱10.7K

49.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 ₱104.4K

$594 ₱36.3K

187.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₱38.4K

$398 ₱24.4K

57.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 ₱270.2K

$2,167 ₱132.7K

103.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,526 ₱154.6K

$904 ₱55.4K

179.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ₱30.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

4.5

67.11%

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

Last update for Manila: July 25, 2026

Last update for Vigan: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Manila versus $262 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 $26.00 in Manila versus $13.00 in Vigan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $196 – 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: $968 in Manila, $697 in Vigan – roughly 39% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,452 per month in Manila and $1,045 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 $968 in Manila and $697 in Vigan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Manila and $36.00 in Vigan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Vigan, where all-in costs run around $697, than in Manila at $968. 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 $697 in Vigan to $968 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.