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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $699 in Vigan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,108 in Vigan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,517 in Vigan, rent included.

Manila costs about 38% more than Vigan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Vigan are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Vigan 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱328

$3.62 ₱220

48.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,628

$13.46 ₱818

99.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱276

$1.74 ₱106

160.92%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱159

$1.74 ₱106

50.57%

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

$0.98 ₱59.8

$0.70 ₱42.39

40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱32.71

$0.37 ₱22.55

45.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱90.1

$1.21 ₱73.7

22.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱166

$1.74 ₱106

56.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱119

$1.83 ₱111

7.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱84.8

$1.24 ₱75.3

12.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱62.8

$0.72 ₱43.80

43.06%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱126

$2.24 ₱136

-7.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱554

$9.06 ₱550

0.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱316

$3.72 ₱226

39.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱529

$7.62 ₱463

14.17%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱207

$2.77 ₱168

22.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱110

$1.63 ₱99.2

11.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱223

$2.38 ₱145

53.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱153

$1.22 ₱73.9

106.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱171

$1.63 ₱98.9

72.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱188

$2.16 ₱131

43.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱121

$0.68 ₱41.13

192.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱41.69

$0.72 ₱43.89

-4.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱209

$2.23 ₱136

54.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱606

$9.23 ₱561

8.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱90.8

$1.04 ₱63.0

43.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱133

$1.80 ₱109

21.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.35

$0.28 ₱17.21

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱719

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱56.3

$0.69 ₱41.92

34.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.47

$0.15 ₱8.85

80.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱131

$2.45 ₱149

-11.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱67.8

$1.10 ₱66.8

1.82%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$14.4K ₱877.9K

83.96%

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

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$15.6K ₱950.2K

46.84%

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

$135 ₱8,183

$52.7 ₱3,201

155.67%

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

$22.00 ₱1,337

$34.59 ₱2,102

-36.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,700

$26.31 ₱1,599

6.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,556

$34.26 ₱2,082

22.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱425

$4.48 ₱272

56.25%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱409

$5.85 ₱355

15.04%

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

$365 ₱22.2K

$35.66 ₱2,167

924.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱702.7K

$4,790 ₱291.1K

141.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,855

$49.07 ₱2,982

-4.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,127

$27.97 ₱1,700

25.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱4,967

$61.7 ₱3,747

32.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,794

$45.64 ₱2,774

0.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱29.7K

$268 ₱16.3K

82.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.4K

$177 ₱10.8K

52.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱102.5K

$594 ₱36.1K

183.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.3K

$396 ₱24.0K

59.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱262.8K

$2,388 ₱145.1K

81.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱160.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.5K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Vigan: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $268 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 in Manila versus $13 in Vigan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $198 – 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: $963 in Manila, $699 in Vigan – roughly 38% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $1,048 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 $963 in Manila and $699 in Vigan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $365 per month in Manila and $35.66 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 $699, than in Manila at $963. 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 $699 in Vigan to $963 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.