Cost of Living Comparison Between Cainta and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between Cainta and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,032 per month in Cainta vs $1,204 in Makati, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,379 per month in Cainta vs $2,023 in Makati, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,727 per month in Cainta vs $2,841 in Makati, rent included.

Cainta is about 14% cheaper than Makati, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Cainta and Makati are more affordable than the global median – Cainta 23% lower, Makati 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 ₱225

$6.69 ₱412

-45.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.88 ₱1,103

$44.22 ₱2,728

-59.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.89 ₱178

$4.88 ₱301

-40.78%

Cappuccino

$2.61 ₱161

$2.93 ₱181

-10.92%

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

$0.98 ₱60.4

$1.19 ₱73.7

-17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.73

$0.56 ₱34.78

-10.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 ₱95.4

$2.42 ₱150

-35.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 ₱161

$3.62 ₱223

-28.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ₱116

$2.20 ₱136

-14.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 ₱83.4

$1.49 ₱92.0

-9.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱64.7

$1.07 ₱65.7

-1.87%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$2.34 ₱144

-11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.57 ₱590

$8.19 ₱505

16.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.17 ₱319

$4.42 ₱273

16.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.41 ₱519

$7.71 ₱475

9.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 ₱214

$4.36 ₱269

-20.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₱109

$2.00 ₱123

-11.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 ₱215

$2.57 ₱159

35.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 ₱153

$2.23 ₱138

11.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 ₱166

$3.45 ₱213

-22.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$2.86 ₱176

8.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.14 ₱70.0

73.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₱40.52

$1.02 ₱62.7

-35.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.45 ₱213

$2.84 ₱175

21.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.22 ₱569

$8.12 ₱501

13.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 ₱93.4

$1.25 ₱77.1

20.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₱132

$2.32 ₱143

-7.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.47

$0.54 ₱33.40

-48.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.64 ₱225

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.9

$0.78 ₱48.35

11.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.49

$0.11 ₱6.49

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 ₱132

$3.65 ₱225

-41.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.4

$1.10 ₱67.9

2.73%

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

$26.7K ₱1.6M

$33.4K ₱2.1M

-19.90%

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

$22.4K ₱1.4M

$21.5K ₱1.3M

4.47%

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

$137 ₱8,476

$171 ₱10.5K

-19.48%

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

$21.64 ₱1,335

$26.96 ₱1,663

-19.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.56 ₱1,700

$35.97 ₱2,219

-23.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.30 ₱2,054

$55.6 ₱3,430

-40.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.41 ₱272

$11.87 ₱732

-62.85%

Cinema Ticket

$6.68 ₱412

$8.19 ₱505

-18.44%

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

$126 ₱7,768

$322 ₱19.9K

-60.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,286 ₱264.3K

$7,811 ₱481.8K

-45.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.60 ₱2,813

$58.8 ₱3,628

-22.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.34 ₱2,180

$35.76 ₱2,206

-1.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.8 ₱5,110

$83.9 ₱5,174

-1.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.76 ₱2,884

$123 ₱7,612

-62.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₱16.2K

$667 ₱41.2K

-60.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 ₱21.6K

$403 ₱24.8K

-13.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 ₱35.6K

$2,307 ₱142.3K

-75.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 ₱24.1K

$1,015 ₱62.6K

-61.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,118 ₱130.7K

$6,283 ₱387.5K

-66.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,903 ₱240.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$448 ₱27.6K

$712 ₱43.9K

-37.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.67

12.74%

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

Last update for Cainta: April 26, 2026

Last update for Makati: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $263 in Cainta versus $667 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 59% 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 $18.00 in Cainta versus $44.00 in Makati. Groceries tell a different story – $239 in Cainta vs $236 in Makati – so Makati wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Cainta vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Makati is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,548 per month in Cainta and $1,807 in Makati. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cainta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,032 in Cainta and $1,204 in Makati. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $126 per month in Cainta and $322 in Makati. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cainta, where all-in costs run around $1,032, than in Makati at $1,204. In Cainta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cainta – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Cainta. 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.