Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $936 in Cebu versus $1,228 in Makati.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,427 in Cebu versus $2,025 in Makati.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,918 in Cebu versus $2,822 in Makati.

Living in Cebu costs roughly 24% less than in Makati, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Makati 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.09 ₱193

$6.57 ₱411

-52.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.80 ₱1,488

$39.99 ₱2,501

-40.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.10 ₱257

$4.59 ₱287

-10.68%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$2.76 ₱173

-5.80%

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

$1.55 ₱96.9

$1.07 ₱67.2

44.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.46

$0.45 ₱28.17

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 ₱108

$2.42 ₱151

-28.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱137

$3.25 ₱203

-32.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱120

$1.83 ₱115

4.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 ₱87.1

$1.29 ₱80.6

7.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ₱60.8

$1.03 ₱64.3

-5.83%

Eggs

$2.00 ₱125

$2.38 ₱149

-15.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.93 ₱621

$7.31 ₱457

35.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.38 ₱274

$4.84 ₱303

-9.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.41 ₱463

$7.19 ₱449

3.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 ₱217

$3.98 ₱249

-13.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₱91.7

$2.03 ₱127

-27.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱151

$3.26 ₱204

-26.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ₱96.5

$2.31 ₱144

-33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.36 ₱148

$3.47 ₱217

-31.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 ₱119

$3.47 ₱217

-44.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₱77.3

$1.12 ₱70.0

10.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₱41.42

$1.11 ₱69.4

-40.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 ₱188

$2.70 ₱169

11.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.08 ₱380

$7.86 ₱491

-22.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₱81.8

$1.40 ₱87.4

-6.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₱108

$2.08 ₱130

-16.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.65

$0.90 ₱56.1

-72.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.73 ₱796

$57.3 ₱3,581

-77.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₱46.78

$0.61 ₱38.09

22.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.41

$0.21 ₱13.10

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 ₱288

$1.88 ₱117

144.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₱83.7

$1.25 ₱78.3

7.20%

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

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$21.3K ₱1.3M

2.41%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

-1.39%

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

$121 ₱7,564

$154 ₱9,611

-21.31%

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

$14.86 ₱929

$15.78 ₱987

-5.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.84 ₱1,741

$32.11 ₱2,008

-13.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.06 ₱2,005

$54.6 ₱3,413

-41.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.43 ₱402

$14.41 ₱901

-55.38%

Cinema Ticket

$5.64 ₱352

$7.39 ₱462

-23.68%

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

$273 ₱17.1K

$790 ₱49.4K

-65.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,017 ₱501.3K

$7,405 ₱463.0K

8.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.77 ₱3,050

$59.8 ₱3,741

-18.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 ₱1,594

$37.65 ₱2,354

-32.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 ₱4,884

$82.2 ₱5,137

-4.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.8 ₱3,616

$103 ₱6,468

-44.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱31.3K

$748 ₱46.8K

-33.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 ₱18.7K

$430 ₱26.9K

-30.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 ₱68.1K

$2,276 ₱142.3K

-52.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₱39.5K

$1,080 ₱67.5K

-41.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,888 ₱180.6K

$6,003 ₱375.4K

-51.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,877 ₱117.3K

$3,832 ₱239.6K

-51.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.7K

$610 ₱38.1K

-43.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.2

7.5

-4.00%

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

Last update for Cebu: August 30, 2026

Last update for Makati: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $748 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 76% 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: $24.00 in Cebu vs $40.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $231 per month, with Cebu 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

Cebu vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 76% 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: $500 in Cebu versus $748 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $936 per month in Cebu versus $1,228 in Makati – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Cebu runs roughly 350% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $936 in Cebu versus $1,228 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Cebu 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, Cebu 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 Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.