Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bangalore and Makati

For one person, living is cheaper in Bangalore: $535 a month against $1,257 in Makati, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bangalore
🇮🇳 India
$535
/mo nomad
Makati
🇵🇭 Philippines
$1,257
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bangalore and in Makati

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bangalore and in Makati actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $535 in Bangalore versus $1,257 in Makati.

  • Bangalore $535
  • Makati $1,257

Estimated couple costs with rent: $927 in Bangalore versus $2,052 in Makati.

  • Bangalore $927
  • Makati $2,052

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,318 in Bangalore versus $2,847 in Makati.

  • Bangalore $1,318
  • Makati $2,847

Living in Bangalore costs roughly 57% less than in Makati, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bangalore 60% lower, Makati 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bangalore
Makati
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.04 ₹294
$6.56 ₱411
-53.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.83 ₹1,725
$40.13 ₱2,517
-55.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.78 ₹463
$4.75 ₱298
0.63%
Cappuccino
$2.24 ₹217
$2.65 ₱166
-15.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₹37.49
$1.08 ₱67.6
-63.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14 ₹13.64
$0.50 ₱31.47
-72.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 ₹226
$2.44 ₱153
-4.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 ₹379
$3.10 ₱195
26.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bangalore
Makati
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.61 ₹58.6
$1.83 ₱115
-66.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 ₹55.2
$1.24 ₱77.7
-54.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 ₹77.9
$1.01 ₱63.5
-19.80%
Eggs
$1.12 ₹109
$2.37 ₱148
-52.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.93 ₹574
$7.35 ₱461
-19.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.85 ₹373
$4.91 ₱308
-21.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$6.81 ₱427
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 ₹269
$4.09 ₱257
-32.03%
Banana (1kg)
$0.75 ₹72.2
$2.00 ₱125
-62.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.22 ₹118
$3.27 ₱205
-62.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.40 ₹39.19
$2.29 ₱144
-82.53%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 ₹36.40
$3.59 ₱225
-89.42%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 ₹34.72
$3.45 ₱216
-89.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 ₹40.31
$1.07 ₱67.0
-60.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32 ₹31.21
$1.11 ₱69.7
-71.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.61 ₹446
$2.66 ₱167
73.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.01 ₹872
$8.01 ₱502
12.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₹180
$1.35 ₱84.5
37.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₹283
$1.98 ₱124
47.47%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.35 ₹614
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bangalore
Makati
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 ₹48.89
$0.99 ₱61.9
-48.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.71 ₹1,520
$57.4 ₱3,599
-72.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.01 ₹97.8
$0.66 ₱41.39
53.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹29.43
$0.23 ₱14.46
30.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.10 ₹203
$1.88 ₱118
11.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 ₹104
$1.26 ₱79.0
-14.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.6K ₹1.2M
$21.5K ₱1.3M
-41.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₹1.8M
$19.8K ₱1.2M
-3.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bangalore
Makati
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$30.32 ₹2,934
$155 ₱9,726
-80.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.11 ₹398
$15.90 ₱997
-74.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.23 ₹990
$32.67 ₱2,049
-68.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bangalore
Makati
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.61 ₹1,801
$55.4 ₱3,473
-66.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.95 ₹576
$14.51 ₱910
-58.99%
Cinema Ticket
$4.60 ₹446
$6.98 ₱438
-34.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bangalore
Makati
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$104 ₹10.1K
$783 ₱49.1K
-86.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,176 ₹307.3K
$7,340 ₱460.4K
-56.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bangalore
Makati
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.29 ₹3,125
$59.6 ₱3,738
-45.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.85 ₹2,889
$37.48 ₱2,351
-20.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$53.3 ₹5,160
$82.5 ₱5,171
-35.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.66 ₹3,838
$102 ₱6,383
-61.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bangalore
Makati
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₹29.9K
$828 ₱51.9K
-62.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$175 ₹16.9K
$416 ₱26.1K
-57.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₹76.3K
$2,318 ₱145.4K
-66.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$481 ₹46.6K
$1,067 ₱66.9K
-54.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,889 ₹182.8K
$6,082 ₱381.5K
-68.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,067 ₹103.3K
$3,765 ₱236.1K
-71.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bangalore
Makati
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$919 ₹89.0K
$616 ₱38.6K
49.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.5
7.5
13.33%

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

Last update for Bangalore: October 4, 2026

Last update for Makati: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bangalore
$175
Makati
$416 138% $241
Groceries & Markets
Bangalore
$122
Makati
$230 88.1% $108
Eating Out
Bangalore
$87
Makati
$123 41.3% $36
Clothing & Footwear
Bangalore
$70
Makati
$127 81.3% $57
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bangalore
$45
Makati
$204 356% $159
Sport & Entertainment
Bangalore
$28
Makati
$69 149% $42
Getting Around
Bangalore
$20
Makati
$63 212% $43

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $309 in Bangalore and $828 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bangalore pays 49% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Bangalore vs $40.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $122 vs $230 per month, with Bangalore cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇳 Bangalore
🇵🇭 Makati
🕒 Local time
16:56 4:56 PM
19:26 7:26 PM
2 h 30 min ahead of Bangalore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,495,492
582,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to INR – Indian Rupee Converter

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 96.78 INR (100 INR = 1.03 USD). 1 EUR = 108 INR (1,000 INR = 9.22 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.28 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bangalore Makati 4,680 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bangalore
  • Makati

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Bangalore vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bangalore or Makati?
Bangalore wins on cost – living expenses run 135% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bangalore the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bangalore or in Makati?
Average pay runs 49% higher in Bangalore, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bangalore compared to Makati?
Rent for a central apartment: $309 in Bangalore versus $828 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Bangalore compared to Makati?
A monthly transit pass in Bangalore runs roughly 265% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Bangalore and in Makati?
Childcare runs $104 in Bangalore versus $783 in Makati. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bangalore or in Makati?
At $535 in Bangalore versus $1,257 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bangalore but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Bangalore the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bangalore or Makati?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bangalore delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $535 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bangalore hard to pass up.
How safe is Bangalore compared to Makati?
Safety-wise, Bangalore 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bangalore gentler on the wallet – expenses run 135% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Bangalore vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?