Cost of Living Comparison Between Boracay and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between Boracay and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $751 in Boracay versus $1,237 in Makati.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Boracay versus $2,035 in Makati.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,527 in Boracay versus $2,833 in Makati.

Living in Boracay costs roughly 39% less than in Makati, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Boracay 46% lower, Makati 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.47 ₱343

$6.43 ₱403

-14.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.52 ₱1,223

$40.02 ₱2,509

-51.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.11 ₱383

$4.58 ₱287

33.41%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱147

$2.60 ₱163

-9.62%

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

$0.65 ₱40.67

$1.13 ₱70.6

-42.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₱15.78

$0.48 ₱30.10

-47.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.09 ₱68.4

$2.41 ₱151

-54.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₱116

$3.25 ₱204

-43.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 ₱100

$1.94 ₱121

-17.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 ₱73.9

$1.23 ₱76.9

-4.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 ₱59.9

$1.07 ₱66.9

-11.21%

Eggs

$1.86 ₱117

$2.47 ₱155

-24.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.75 ₱360

$7.28 ₱457

-21.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.00 ₱251

$4.85 ₱304

-17.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.37 ₱462

$6.91 ₱433

6.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 ₱134

$3.98 ₱250

-46.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ₱102

$2.00 ₱125

-19.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.51 ₱157

$3.22 ₱202

-22.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 ₱63.7

$2.37 ₱148

-56.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.18 ₱137

$3.45 ₱216

-36.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 ₱132

$3.42 ₱215

-38.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 ₱52.5

$1.11 ₱69.6

-24.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₱35.65

$1.16 ₱72.7

-50.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 ₱146

$2.57 ₱161

-8.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.07 ₱506

$8.08 ₱506

-0.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$1.35 ₱84.4

-27.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₱122

$2.05 ₱129

-5.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.51

$0.98 ₱61.6

-74.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.51 ₱659

$57.9 ₱3,628

-81.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₱53.2

$0.61 ₱38.53

39.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.72

$0.23 ₱14.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 ₱114

$1.86 ₱116

-2.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱70.7

$1.18 ₱74.0

-4.24%

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

$23.4K ₱1.5M

$21.7K ₱1.4M

8.27%

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

$18.1K ₱1.1M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

-6.65%

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

$110 ₱6,914

$154 ₱9,681

-28.58%

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

$15.61 ₱978

$16.28 ₱1,021

-4.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.39 ₱2,156

$31.31 ₱1,963

9.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.83 ₱2,121

$54.0 ₱3,383

-37.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.86 ₱304

$14.31 ₱897

-66.04%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 ₱327

$7.10 ₱445

-26.48%

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

$126 ₱7,906

$783 ₱49.1K

-83.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,151 ₱511.0K

$7,374 ₱462.3K

10.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.00 ₱1,818

$60.3 ₱3,780

-51.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.80 ₱1,304

$37.61 ₱2,358

-44.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 ₱5,083

$82.2 ₱5,151

-1.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.57 ₱3,107

$104 ₱6,550

-52.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱17.1K

$755 ₱47.3K

-63.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 ₱10.9K

$429 ₱26.9K

-59.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 ₱30.8K

$2,337 ₱146.5K

-79.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 ₱22.1K

$1,072 ₱67.2K

-67.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,596 ₱162.8K

$5,941 ₱372.4K

-56.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,021 ₱64.0K

$3,816 ₱239.2K

-73.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$230 ₱14.4K

$606 ₱38.0K

-62.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

7.5

-10.00%

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

Last update for Boracay: September 7, 2026

Last update for Makati: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $272 in Boracay and $755 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 164% 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: $20.00 in Boracay vs $40.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $232 per month, with Boracay 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

Boracay vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boracay and Makati differ by about 65% in total monthly costs ($751 vs $1,237 including rent). Boracay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 164% 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: $272 in Boracay versus $755 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Boracay – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $40.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $751 in Boracay versus $1,237 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Boracay but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Boracay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Boracay 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 Boracay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.