Cost of Living Comparison Between Bago and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between Bago and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $771 in Bago versus $1,226 in Makati.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,219 in Bago versus $2,003 in Makati.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,668 in Bago versus $2,780 in Makati.

Living in Bago costs roughly 37% less than in Makati, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bago 42% lower, Makati 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 ₱213

$6.61 ₱406

-47.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.77 ₱1,091

$44.73 ₱2,746

-60.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.33 ₱204

$4.77 ₱293

-30.19%

Cappuccino

$2.42 ₱149

$2.95 ₱181

-17.97%

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

$0.84 ₱51.5

$1.15 ₱70.9

-26.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₱24.20

$0.52 ₱32.10

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.31 ₱80.5

$2.37 ₱145

-44.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ₱130

$3.61 ₱222

-41.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 ₱113

$2.15 ₱132

-13.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱78.3

$1.44 ₱88.6

-11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱61.2

$1.06 ₱65.0

-5.66%

Eggs

$2.09 ₱129

$2.35 ₱144

-11.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.25 ₱507

$7.87 ₱483

4.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 ₱263

$4.48 ₱275

-4.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.62 ₱468

$7.80 ₱479

-2.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 ₱176

$4.43 ₱272

-35.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 ₱94.8

$1.97 ₱121

-21.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 ₱165

$2.59 ₱159

3.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ₱98.2

$2.17 ₱133

-26.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$3.41 ₱209

-32.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 ₱160

$2.81 ₱172

-7.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₱68.5

$1.09 ₱66.7

2.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.14

$0.94 ₱57.6

-18.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.79 ₱171

$2.95 ₱181

-5.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.03 ₱493

$7.90 ₱485

1.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₱73.2

$1.23 ₱75.6

-3.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ₱122

$2.25 ₱138

-11.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.75

$0.55 ₱34.08

-52.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱223

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱51.2

$0.77 ₱47.56

7.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.75

$0.11 ₱6.84

118.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 ₱135

$3.62 ₱222

-39.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.7

$1.15 ₱70.5

-1.74%

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

$26.4K ₱1.6M

$33.4K ₱2.1M

-21.02%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$21.9K ₱1.3M

-5.69%

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

$111 ₱6,785

$173 ₱10.6K

-36.23%

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

$32.66 ₱2,006

$27.42 ₱1,683

19.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.27 ₱1,674

$36.34 ₱2,232

-24.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.81 ₱2,076

$55.0 ₱3,377

-38.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.36 ₱268

$11.72 ₱720

-62.80%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ₱355

$8.05 ₱494

-28.20%

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

$152 ₱9,350

$323 ₱19.8K

-52.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,234 ₱260.0K

$7,720 ₱474.0K

-45.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.45 ₱2,852

$59.7 ₱3,664

-22.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.93 ₱1,653

$36.00 ₱2,210

-25.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.4 ₱4,627

$85.5 ₱5,251

-11.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.0 ₱3,313

$122 ₱7,497

-55.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 ₱16.5K

$660 ₱40.5K

-59.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 ₱11.0K

$390 ₱23.9K

-53.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 ₱36.1K

$2,259 ₱138.7K

-73.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$1,032 ₱63.4K

-62.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,081 ₱127.8K

$6,059 ₱372.0K

-65.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$931 ₱57.1K

$3,835 ₱235.5K

-75.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.4K

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 Bago: July 26, 2026

Last update for Makati: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $269 in Bago and $660 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Bago vs $45.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 vs $232 per month, with Bago cheaper across the board.

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

Bago vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bago is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,157 in Bago and $1,840 in Makati to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $269 in Bago versus $660 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $152 in Bago versus $323 in Makati. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bago – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $45.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $771 in Bago versus $1,226 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bago but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Bago the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Bago is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Makati, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Bago and Makati are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.