Cost of Living Comparison Between Calamba and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between Calamba and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $696 in Calamba versus $1,188 in Makati.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,181 in Calamba versus $2,011 in Makati.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,665 in Calamba versus $2,833 in Makati.

Living in Calamba costs roughly 41% less than in Makati, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Calamba 48% lower, Makati 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 ₱224

$6.53 ₱402

-44.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.16 ₱810

$45.00 ₱2,770

-70.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.58 ₱159

$4.79 ₱295

-46.14%

Cappuccino

$2.39 ₱147

$2.95 ₱181

-18.98%

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

$0.65 ₱40.01

$1.20 ₱73.8

-45.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₱24.98

$0.58 ₱35.43

-29.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.05 ₱64.6

$2.34 ₱144

-55.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$3.56 ₱219

-43.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 ₱115

$2.14 ₱132

-13.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.1

$1.43 ₱88.1

-16.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 ₱67.8

$1.11 ₱68.6

-0.90%

Eggs

$2.29 ₱141

$2.33 ₱144

-1.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.38 ₱578

$7.99 ₱492

17.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.82 ₱235

$4.52 ₱279

-15.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 ₱516

$7.71 ₱475

8.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 ₱164

$4.54 ₱279

-41.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 ₱115

$1.98 ₱122

-6.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 ₱146

$2.72 ₱168

-12.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱71.5

$2.28 ₱141

-49.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱112

$3.45 ₱212

-47.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.80 ₱173

-21.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱42.08

$1.14 ₱70.0

-40.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.36

$0.99 ₱60.7

-27.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱207

$2.99 ₱184

12.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.77 ₱540

$8.01 ₱493

9.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₱63.8

$1.25 ₱76.9

-16.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$2.24 ₱138

4.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.88

$0.51 ₱31.57

-49.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.8

$0.76 ₱47.05

14.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.53

$0.13 ₱8.20

69.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ₱149

$3.45 ₱212

-29.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.8

$1.15 ₱71.0

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

$32.0K ₱2.0M

$34.1K ₱2.1M

-6.06%

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$22.0K ₱1.4M

-6.28%

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

$147 ₱9,069

$170 ₱10.4K

-13.18%

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

$34.10 ₱2,099

$27.66 ₱1,703

23.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 ₱1,600

$35.79 ₱2,203

-27.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.44 ₱2,120

$54.8 ₱3,371

-37.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.56 ₱281

$12.03 ₱741

-62.09%

Cinema Ticket

$5.65 ₱348

$8.20 ₱505

-31.10%

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

$153 ₱9,390

$324 ₱20.0K

-52.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,800 ₱295.5K

$7,680 ₱472.8K

-37.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.68 ₱3,058

$58.9 ₱3,628

-15.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.12 ₱1,670

$35.88 ₱2,209

-24.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.8 ₱4,605

$84.1 ₱5,175

-11.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.97 ₱2,892

$124 ₱7,609

-62.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$124 ₱7,617

$657 ₱40.4K

-81.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$81.2 ₱4,998

$390 ₱24.0K

-79.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 ₱36.4K

$2,273 ₱140.0K

-74.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱24.4K

$1,008 ₱62.0K

-60.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$258 ₱15.9K

$605 ₱37.3K

-57.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.67

-32.53%

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

Last update for Calamba: July 11, 2026

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $124 in Calamba and $657 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 135% 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: $13.00 in Calamba vs $45.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $235 per month, with Calamba 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

Calamba vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calamba wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calamba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 135% 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: $124 in Calamba versus $657 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $696 per month in Calamba versus $1,188 in Makati – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $696 in Calamba versus $1,188 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Calamba but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Calamba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Calamba delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $696 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Calamba hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Calamba 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 Calamba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.