Cost of Living Comparison Between Calapan City and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between Calapan City and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $801 per month in Calapan City vs $1,204 in Makati, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,245 per month in Calapan City vs $2,023 in Makati, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,688 per month in Calapan City vs $2,841 in Makati, rent included.

Calapan City is about 33% cheaper than Makati, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Calapan City and Makati are more affordable than the global median – Calapan City 40% lower, Makati 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 ₱213

$6.69 ₱409

-48.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.93 ₱1,097

$44.22 ₱2,706

-59.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.34 ₱205

$4.88 ₱299

-31.56%

Cappuccino

$2.46 ₱151

$2.93 ₱179

-16.04%

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

$0.77 ₱46.96

$1.19 ₱73.1

-35.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.53

$0.56 ₱34.49

-33.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 ₱82.7

$2.42 ₱148

-44.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₱126

$3.62 ₱221

-42.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 ₱114

$2.20 ₱135

-15.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 ₱77.0

$1.49 ₱91.2

-15.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.1

$1.07 ₱65.2

-3.74%

Eggs

$2.06 ₱126

$2.34 ₱143

-11.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.12 ₱497

$8.19 ₱501

-0.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.17 ₱255

$4.42 ₱270

-5.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 ₱465

$7.71 ₱471

-1.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 ₱175

$4.36 ₱267

-34.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ₱92.9

$2.00 ₱122

-24.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 ₱159

$2.57 ₱157

1.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₱98.7

$2.23 ₱136

-27.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.27 ₱139

$3.45 ₱211

-34.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 ₱159

$2.86 ₱175

-9.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱68.0

$1.14 ₱69.5

-2.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₱46.41

$1.02 ₱62.2

-25.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 ₱175

$2.84 ₱174

0.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.27 ₱506

$8.12 ₱497

1.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱73.2

$1.25 ₱76.5

-4.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱126

$2.32 ₱142

-11.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.71

$0.54 ₱33.13

-51.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.26 ₱872

$3.64 ₱223

291.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱47.57

$0.78 ₱47.96

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.38

$0.11 ₱6.44

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱127

$3.65 ₱223

-43.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.4

$1.10 ₱67.4

1.82%

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

$27.1K ₱1.7M

$33.4K ₱2.0M

-18.89%

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

$20.2K ₱1.2M

$21.5K ₱1.3M

-5.95%

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

$112 ₱6,877

$171 ₱10.4K

-34.13%

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

$32.87 ₱2,011

$26.96 ₱1,649

21.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.52 ₱1,683

$35.97 ₱2,201

-23.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.61 ₱2,056

$55.6 ₱3,402

-39.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.47 ₱274

$11.87 ₱726

-62.34%

Cinema Ticket

$6.02 ₱368

$8.19 ₱501

-26.50%

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

$150 ₱9,192

$322 ₱19.7K

-53.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,313 ₱263.9K

$7,811 ₱477.9K

-44.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.18 ₱2,825

$58.8 ₱3,598

-21.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.38 ₱1,614

$35.76 ₱2,188

-26.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.9 ₱4,642

$83.9 ₱5,132

-9.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.1 ₱3,310

$123 ₱7,550

-56.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.2K

$667 ₱40.8K

-60.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 ₱10.7K

$403 ₱24.6K

-56.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$587 ₱35.9K

$2,307 ₱141.1K

-74.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.8K

$1,015 ₱62.1K

-61.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,415 ₱147.8K

$6,283 ₱384.4K

-61.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,635 ₱100.1K

$3,903 ₱238.8K

-58.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$123 ₱7,505

$712 ₱43.6K

-82.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

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

Last update for Calapan City: April 28, 2026

Last update for Makati: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $265 in Calapan City 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 481% 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 Calapan City versus $44.00 in Makati. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $236 – making Calapan City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Calapan City vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Makati is pricier by about 50%, 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 $1,202 per month in Calapan City 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 Calapan City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Calapan City and $44.00 in Makati. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $801 in Calapan City and $1,204 in Makati. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Calapan City, where all-in costs run around $801, than in Makati at $1,204. In Calapan City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Calapan City – 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 Calapan City. 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.