Cost of Living Comparison Between Bataan and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between Bataan and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $602 in Bataan versus $1,226 in Makati.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $994 in Bataan versus $2,003 in Makati.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,386 in Bataan versus $2,780 in Makati.

Living in Bataan costs roughly 51% less than in Makati, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bataan 55% lower, Makati 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.44 ₱88.6

$6.61 ₱406

-78.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.43 ₱1,070

$44.73 ₱2,746

-61.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.99 ₱184

$4.77 ₱293

-37.32%

Cappuccino

$1.48 ₱91.1

$2.95 ₱181

-49.83%

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

$0.81 ₱49.60

$1.15 ₱70.9

-29.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₱15.94

$0.52 ₱32.10

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱90.6

$2.37 ₱145

-37.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 ₱160

$3.61 ₱222

-27.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ₱110

$2.15 ₱132

-16.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.5

$1.44 ₱88.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱60.8

$1.06 ₱65.0

-6.60%

Eggs

$2.01 ₱123

$2.35 ₱144

-14.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.10 ₱497

$7.87 ₱483

2.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.04 ₱248

$4.48 ₱275

-9.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 ₱662

$7.80 ₱479

38.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.88 ₱177

$4.43 ₱272

-34.99%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 ₱128

$1.97 ₱121

5.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.64 ₱223

$2.59 ₱159

40.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ₱89.5

$2.17 ₱133

-32.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 ₱88.9

$3.41 ₱209

-57.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ₱155

$2.81 ₱172

-9.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.1

$1.09 ₱66.7

-0.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₱33.50

$0.94 ₱57.6

-41.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 ₱150

$2.95 ₱181

-17.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.89 ₱546

$7.90 ₱485

12.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.6

$1.23 ₱75.6

-12.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₱154

$2.25 ₱138

11.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.93

$0.55 ₱34.08

-52.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.20 ₱258

$3.63 ₱223

15.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱51.1

$0.77 ₱47.56

7.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.44

$0.11 ₱6.84

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 ₱132

$3.62 ₱222

-40.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱71.7

$1.15 ₱70.5

1.74%

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

$28.2K ₱1.7M

$33.4K ₱2.1M

-15.67%

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

$28.7K ₱1.8M

$21.9K ₱1.3M

31.42%

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

$53.1 ₱3,260

$173 ₱10.6K

-69.36%

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

$23.13 ₱1,420

$27.42 ₱1,683

-15.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.33 ₱1,617

$36.34 ₱2,232

-27.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.38 ₱2,111

$55.0 ₱3,377

-37.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.54 ₱279

$11.72 ₱720

-61.26%

Cinema Ticket

$6.31 ₱387

$8.05 ₱494

-21.61%

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

$74.4 ₱4,570

$323 ₱19.8K

-76.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,358 ₱267.6K

$7,720 ₱474.0K

-43.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.59 ₱2,860

$59.7 ₱3,664

-21.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.10 ₱2,094

$36.00 ₱2,210

-5.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.0 ₱4,235

$85.5 ₱5,251

-19.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₱7,099

$122 ₱7,497

-5.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$98.5 ₱6,046

$660 ₱40.5K

-85.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$57.9 ₱3,555

$390 ₱23.9K

-85.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$315 ₱19.3K

$2,259 ₱138.7K

-86.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$170 ₱10.4K

$1,032 ₱63.4K

-83.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱372.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱235.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$407 ₱25.0K

$610 ₱37.4K

-33.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

6.67

-7.50%

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

Last update for Bataan: July 27, 2026

Last update for Makati: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $98.5 in Bataan and $660 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 50% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $17.00 in Bataan vs $45.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $232 per month, with Bataan 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

Bataan vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bataan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 104% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 50% lower in Makati. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $98.5 in Bataan versus $660 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Bataan – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $45.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $602 in Bataan versus $1,226 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bataan but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Bataan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Bataan 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, Bataan 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 Bataan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.