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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $691 in Vigan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,543 per month in Manila vs $1,089 in Vigan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Manila vs $1,487 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

$5.22 ₱315

$3.50 ₱211

49.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.52 ₱1,597

$13.52 ₱814

96.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 ₱264

$1.82 ₱110

140.66%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ₱164

$1.73 ₱104

57.23%

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

$0.93 ₱55.9

$0.65 ₱39.05

43.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₱30.63

$0.41 ₱24.45

24.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱91.7

$1.21 ₱72.8

25.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ₱163

$1.73 ₱104

56.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₱117

$1.89 ₱114

3.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 ₱81.9

$1.25 ₱75.1

8.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱65.5

$0.71 ₱43.02

53.52%

Eggs

$2.10 ₱127

$2.22 ₱134

-5.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 ₱570

$9.06 ₱546

4.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.24 ₱316

$3.71 ₱224

41.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.78 ₱529

$7.23 ₱436

21.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱205

$2.74 ₱165

24.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₱106

$1.58 ₱95.4

12.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 ₱210

$2.25 ₱136

54.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₱145

$1.17 ₱70.4

105.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 ₱161

$1.62 ₱97.5

64.81%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 ₱190

$2.18 ₱131

44.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₱122

$0.72 ₱43.56

180.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱41.56

$0.72 ₱43.45

-4.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.35 ₱202

$2.26 ₱136

48.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.03 ₱604

$9.39 ₱566

6.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱87.9

$1.04 ₱62.5

40.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱129

$1.73 ₱104

23.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.03

$0.28 ₱17.05

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 ₱723

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 ₱55.1

$0.73 ₱43.69

26.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.32

$0.16 ₱9.49

68.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₱131

$2.33 ₱140

-6.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₱69.6

$1.10 ₱66.5

5.45%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$14.1K ₱849.4K

90.25%

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

$23.1K ₱1.4M

$15.9K ₱956.2K

45.45%

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

$134 ₱8,058

$52.6 ₱3,169

154.32%

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

$22.30 ₱1,343

$34.60 ₱2,084

-35.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.94 ₱1,622

$26.45 ₱1,593

1.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.13 ₱2,537

$33.79 ₱2,035

24.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.77 ₱408

$4.56 ₱275

48.46%

Cinema Ticket

$6.57 ₱395

$5.79 ₱349

13.47%

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

$354 ₱21.3K

$35.13 ₱2,116

907.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K ₱675.0K

$4,677 ₱281.7K

139.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.31 ₱2,849

$49.04 ₱2,953

-3.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.90 ₱2,102

$27.91 ₱1,681

25.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.5 ₱4,966

$62.1 ₱3,739

32.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.21 ₱2,783

$46.48 ₱2,799

-0.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.1K

$266 ₱16.0K

88.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.4K

$177 ₱10.7K

53.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,716 ₱103.3K

$576 ₱34.7K

198.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 ₱38.0K

$395 ₱23.8K

59.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,360 ₱262.6K

$2,766 ₱166.6K

57.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,599 ₱156.5K

$984 ₱59.3K

164.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$516 ₱31.1K

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Vigan: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Manila versus $266 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 $14.00 in Vigan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $197 – 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: $957 in Manila, $691 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 $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,037 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 $957 in Manila and $691 in Vigan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $354 per month in Manila and $35.13 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 $691, than in Manila at $957. 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 $691 in Vigan to $957 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.