Cost of Living Comparison Between Alabang and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between Alabang and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $686 per month in Alabang vs $1,232 in Makati, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,093 per month in Alabang vs $2,009 in Makati, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,499 per month in Alabang vs $2,786 in Makati, rent included.

Alabang is about 44% cheaper than Makati, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Alabang and Makati are more affordable than the global median – Alabang 49% lower, Makati 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 ₱246

$6.80 ₱419

-41.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.12 ₱1,302

$45.15 ₱2,784

-53.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.25 ₱139

$4.93 ₱304

-54.36%

Cappuccino

$2.64 ₱163

$2.87 ₱177

-8.01%

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

$0.97 ₱59.9

$1.19 ₱73.5

-18.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.93

$0.56 ₱34.76

-33.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.26 ₱77.9

$2.44 ₱151

-48.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 ₱160

$3.66 ₱225

-28.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ₱99.8

$2.14 ₱132

-24.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 ₱72.1

$1.43 ₱88.4

-18.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.73 ₱44.83

$1.08 ₱66.5

-32.41%

Eggs

$1.97 ₱121

$2.34 ₱144

-15.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.05 ₱435

$8.16 ₱503

-13.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.93 ₱180

$4.43 ₱273

-33.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.69 ₱413

$7.64 ₱471

-12.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.13 ₱131

$4.57 ₱282

-53.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 ₱85.0

$1.92 ₱118

-28.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ₱102

$2.70 ₱166

-38.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 ₱101

$2.25 ₱139

-27.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 ₱74.7

$3.29 ₱203

-63.22%

Onion (1kg)

$3.27 ₱202

$2.86 ₱177

14.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 ₱95.8

$1.08 ₱66.8

43.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₱45.31

$0.99 ₱61.3

-26.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 ₱128

$2.94 ₱181

-29.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.23 ₱446

$8.28 ₱511

-12.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.9

$1.20 ₱74.1

0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₱112

$2.34 ₱144

-22.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.40

$0.51 ₱31.71

-45.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.10

$0.81 ₱50.0

-3.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.49

$0.12 ₱7.44

83.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 ₱132

$3.58 ₱221

-40.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.7

$1.10 ₱67.8

2.73%

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

$25.8K ₱1.6M

$34.3K ₱2.1M

-24.80%

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

$20.4K ₱1.3M

$21.5K ₱1.3M

-5.06%

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

$47.23 ₱2,912

$172 ₱10.6K

-72.54%

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

$32.50 ₱2,004

$26.94 ₱1,661

20.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.42 ₱1,814

$36.49 ₱2,250

-19.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.84 ₱2,086

$56.0 ₱3,452

-39.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.52 ₱279

$11.79 ₱727

-61.66%

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 ₱222

$7.90 ₱487

-54.43%

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

$65.8 ₱4,059

$321 ₱19.8K

-79.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,768 ₱170.7K

$7,538 ₱464.8K

-63.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.71 ₱1,955

$60.3 ₱3,717

-47.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.01 ₱1,111

$35.62 ₱2,197

-49.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 ₱5,944

$85.6 ₱5,277

12.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.7 ₱3,249

$122 ₱7,516

-56.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 ₱15.3K

$666 ₱41.1K

-62.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₱10.9K

$390 ₱24.0K

-54.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$593 ₱36.5K

$2,260 ₱139.4K

-73.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$398 ₱24.5K

$1,024 ₱63.1K

-61.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,690 ₱165.9K

$6,010 ₱370.6K

-55.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$881 ₱54.3K

$3,852 ₱237.5K

-77.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.13

6.67

21.89%

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

Last update for Alabang: June 1, 2026

Last update for Makati: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $248 in Alabang versus $666 in Makati. 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 $21.00 in Alabang versus $45.00 in Makati. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $234 – making Alabang 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

Alabang vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Makati is pricier by about 80%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,029 per month in Alabang and $1,849 in Makati. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Alabang and $45.00 in Makati. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Makati, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Alabang, where all-in costs run around $686, than in Makati at $1,232. In Alabang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Alabang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Alabang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Makati makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.