Cost of Living Comparison Between Dasmarinas and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between Dasmarinas and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $546 in Dasmarinas versus $1,199 in Makati.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $990 in Dasmarinas versus $2,015 in Makati.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,434 in Dasmarinas versus $2,831 in Makati.

Living in Dasmarinas costs roughly 55% less than in Makati, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dasmarinas 59% lower, Makati 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱212

$6.46 ₱391

-45.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.37 ₱809

$43.79 ₱2,650

-69.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.70 ₱163

$5.02 ₱304

-46.22%

Cappuccino

$1.62 ₱98.3

$2.98 ₱180

-45.64%

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

$0.53 ₱32.21

$1.16 ₱70.3

-54.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₱18.40

$0.56 ₱34.17

-46.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱62.6

$2.46 ₱149

-58.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱81.8

$3.45 ₱209

-60.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ₱98.9

$2.22 ₱135

-26.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 ₱66.8

$1.51 ₱91.3

-27.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 ₱51.1

$1.06 ₱64.4

-20.75%

Eggs

$1.99 ₱120

$2.23 ₱135

-10.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.52 ₱334

$8.00 ₱484

-31.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 ₱232

$4.54 ₱275

-15.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱472

$7.74 ₱469

0.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 ₱163

$4.49 ₱272

-40.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 ₱84.6

$1.90 ₱115

-26.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 ₱105

$2.61 ₱158

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 ₱41.95

$2.18 ₱132

-68.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 ₱62.9

$3.37 ₱204

-69.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 ₱139

$2.86 ₱173

-19.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱44.29

$1.08 ₱65.4

-32.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱25.77

$0.94 ₱57.2

-54.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 ₱126

$2.88 ₱174

-27.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.19 ₱556

$8.17 ₱494

12.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ₱64.7

$1.25 ₱75.5

-14.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₱143

$2.34 ₱141

1.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.69

$0.55 ₱33.18

-52.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.50 ₱273

$3.58 ₱217

25.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱52.9

$0.82 ₱49.78

6.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.60

$0.11 ₱6.86

118.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 ₱143

$3.60 ₱218

-34.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱67.4

$1.11 ₱67.0

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

$32.1K ₱1.9M

$33.3K ₱2.0M

-3.40%

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

$20.7K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

-3.34%

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

$44.14 ₱2,671

$167 ₱10.1K

-73.61%

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

$34.55 ₱2,091

$27.19 ₱1,645

27.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.15 ₱1,582

$35.64 ₱2,157

-26.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.79 ₱713

$55.3 ₱3,345

-78.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.52 ₱274

$11.94 ₱722

-62.14%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ₱350

$7.76 ₱469

-25.52%

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

$149 ₱9,017

$317 ₱19.2K

-53.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,807 ₱290.9K

$7,749 ₱468.9K

-37.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.47 ₱2,933

$60.1 ₱3,638

-19.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.44 ₱1,660

$34.79 ₱2,105

-21.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.8 ₱4,585

$84.8 ₱5,128

-10.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.97 ₱2,842

$124 ₱7,479

-62.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.0K

$668 ₱40.4K

-60.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$82.8 ₱5,008

$403 ₱24.4K

-79.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 ₱35.8K

$2,323 ₱140.5K

-74.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 ₱23.5K

$1,018 ₱61.6K

-61.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,311 ₱381.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$407 ₱24.6K

$3,938 ₱238.3K

-89.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 ₱22.9K

$698 ₱42.2K

-45.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

6.67

-4.05%

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

Last update for Dasmarinas: April 21, 2026

Last update for Makati: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Dasmarinas and $668 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 84% 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 in Dasmarinas vs $44 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $234 per month, with Dasmarinas 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

Dasmarinas vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dasmarinas and Makati differ by about 120% in total monthly costs ($546 vs $1,199 including rent). Dasmarinas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Makati earns 84% less. 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: $265 in Dasmarinas versus $668 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Dasmarinas runs roughly 26% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $149 in Dasmarinas versus $317 in Makati. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $546 in Dasmarinas versus $1,199 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dasmarinas but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Dasmarinas 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, Dasmarinas 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 Dasmarinas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 120% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.