Cost of Living Comparison Between Bacolod and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between Bacolod and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $736 per month in Bacolod vs $1,232 in Makati, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,190 per month in Bacolod vs $2,009 in Makati, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,645 per month in Bacolod vs $2,786 in Makati, rent included.

Bacolod is about 40% cheaper than Makati, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bacolod and Makati are more affordable than the global median – Bacolod 45% lower, Makati 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ₱138

$6.80 ₱419

-67.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.17 ₱1,060

$45.15 ₱2,786

-61.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.97 ₱245

$4.93 ₱304

-19.47%

Cappuccino

$2.96 ₱183

$2.87 ₱177

3.14%

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

$1.64 ₱101

$1.19 ₱73.5

37.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.9

$0.56 ₱34.79

116.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.28 ₱78.8

$2.44 ₱151

-47.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₱119

$3.66 ₱226

-46.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ₱107

$2.14 ₱132

-19.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱76.8

$1.43 ₱88.5

-12.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ₱55.9

$1.08 ₱66.6

-15.74%

Eggs

$1.77 ₱109

$2.34 ₱144

-24.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.64 ₱595

$8.16 ₱504

18.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.62 ₱470

$4.43 ₱273

72.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.76 ₱479

$7.64 ₱471

1.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 ₱238

$4.57 ₱282

-15.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.73 ₱168

$1.92 ₱118

42.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 ₱159

$2.70 ₱166

-4.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 ₱39.85

$2.25 ₱139

-71.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.32 ₱143

$3.29 ₱203

-29.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 ₱140

$2.86 ₱177

-20.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.08 ₱66.9

1.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₱69.5

$0.99 ₱61.4

14.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 ₱188

$2.94 ₱182

3.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱59.1

$1.20 ₱74.2

-20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ₱123

$2.34 ₱144

-14.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 ₱10.86

$0.51 ₱31.73

-64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.62 ₱655

$3.58 ₱221

196.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.43

$0.81 ₱50.0

-3.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.79

$0.12 ₱7.45

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 ₱134

$3.58 ₱221

-39.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱76.5

$1.10 ₱67.9

12.73%

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

$25.3K ₱1.6M

$34.3K ₱2.1M

-26.16%

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

$30.6K ₱1.9M

$21.5K ₱1.3M

42.38%

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

$103 ₱6,364

$172 ₱10.6K

-40.04%

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

$35.67 ₱2,201

$26.94 ₱1,663

32.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.89 ₱1,721

$36.49 ₱2,251

-23.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.22 ₱1,618

$56.0 ₱3,455

-53.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.58 ₱159

$11.79 ₱727

-78.12%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 ₱300

$7.90 ₱488

-38.48%

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

$35.27 ₱2,176

$321 ₱19.8K

-89.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,330 ₱267.2K

$7,538 ₱465.1K

-42.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 ₱3,412

$60.3 ₱3,720

-8.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.06 ₱1,608

$35.62 ₱2,198

-26.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.1 ₱3,090

$85.6 ₱5,280

-41.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.72 ₱2,698

$122 ₱7,521

-64.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$227 ₱14.0K

$666 ₱41.1K

-65.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$148 ₱9,161

$390 ₱24.1K

-61.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 ₱30.5K

$2,260 ₱139.4K

-78.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$430 ₱26.5K

$1,024 ₱63.2K

-57.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$207 ₱12.8K

$682 ₱42.1K

-69.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

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

Last update for Bacolod: June 1, 2026

Last update for Makati: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $227 in Bacolod 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.

Salaries run about 230% higher in Makati, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Bacolod versus $45.00 in Makati. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $218 vs $234 – making Bacolod 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

Bacolod vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $736 in Bacolod, $1,232 in Makati – roughly 68% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,104 per month in Bacolod 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 Bacolod, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 197% less in Bacolod. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $35.27 per month in Bacolod and $321 in Makati. 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 Bacolod, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Makati at $1,232. In Bacolod it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Bacolod has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $736 in Bacolod to $1,232 in Makati. 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 Bacolod. 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.