Cost of Living Comparison Between El Nido and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between El Nido and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $734 per month in El Nido vs $1,198 in Makati, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,159 per month in El Nido vs $2,052 in Makati, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,585 per month in El Nido vs $2,907 in Makati, rent included.

El Nido is about 39% cheaper than Makati, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both El Nido and Makati are more affordable than the global median – El Nido 46% lower, Makati 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.72 ₱291

$6.42 ₱396

-26.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.85 ₱1,902

$40.95 ₱2,524

-24.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.80 ₱234

$4.63 ₱286

-17.93%

Cappuccino

$2.27 ₱140

$2.65 ₱163

-14.34%

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

$1.24 ₱76.5

$1.09 ₱67.4

13.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₱19.92

$0.52 ₱32.31

-38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.05 ₱64.9

$2.45 ₱151

-57.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₱94.8

$3.18 ₱196

-51.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 ₱114

$1.88 ₱116

-1.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 ₱70.4

$1.31 ₱81.0

-12.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 ₱83.8

$1.08 ₱66.6

25.93%

Eggs

$1.91 ₱118

$2.26 ₱139

-15.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.72 ₱291

$7.42 ₱457

-36.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.90 ₱240

$5.09 ₱314

-23.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.40 ₱456

$7.16 ₱442

3.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 ₱145

$4.11 ₱253

-42.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.94 ₱120

-20.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 ₱129

$2.39 ₱147

-12.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 ₱73.3

$1.98 ₱122

-39.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 ₱128

$2.99 ₱184

-30.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 ₱120

$3.48 ₱215

-43.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ₱45.31

$1.11 ₱68.2

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.72

$1.13 ₱69.9

-50.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.16 ₱195

$2.60 ₱160

21.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.16 ₱564

$7.92 ₱488

15.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ₱64.3

$1.36 ₱83.8

-23.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₱139

$2.02 ₱124

11.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.49

$0.94 ₱58.1

-73.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.27 ₱695

$58.5 ₱3,605

-80.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 ₱43.69

$0.67 ₱41.17

5.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.93

$0.22 ₱13.49

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 ₱114

$1.91 ₱118

-3.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ₱82.5

$1.26 ₱77.7

6.35%

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

$24.0K ₱1.5M

$22.1K ₱1.4M

8.78%

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

$20.0K ₱1.2M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

1.18%

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

$123 ₱7,578

$153 ₱9,453

-19.84%

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

$14.36 ₱885

$16.87 ₱1,040

-14.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.59 ₱1,516

$30.74 ₱1,895

-20.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.03 ₱2,160

$56.6 ₱3,491

-38.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.88 ₱301

$14.41 ₱888

-66.13%

Cinema Ticket

$6.05 ₱373

$7.34 ₱452

-17.57%

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

$146 ₱9,018

$822 ₱50.7K

-82.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,573 ₱528.5K

$7,484 ₱461.4K

14.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.75 ₱2,081

$60.4 ₱3,723

-44.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.72 ₱1,278

$37.93 ₱2,338

-45.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 ₱4,367

$84.5 ₱5,209

-16.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 ₱3,362

$106 ₱6,519

-48.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$276 ₱17.0K

$738 ₱45.5K

-62.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 ₱12.1K

$388 ₱23.9K

-49.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 ₱30.5K

$2,324 ₱143.2K

-78.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₱24.7K

$1,081 ₱66.6K

-62.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,382 ₱146.9K

$6,146 ₱378.9K

-61.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,017 ₱62.7K

$3,737 ₱230.4K

-72.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$257 ₱15.8K

$611 ₱37.7K

-57.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

7.5

-10.00%

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

Last update for El Nido: August 16, 2026

Last update for Makati: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $276 in El Nido versus $738 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 138% 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 $31.00 in El Nido versus $41.00 in Makati. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $182 vs $227 – making El Nido 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

El Nido vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $734 in El Nido, $1,198 in Makati – roughly 63% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,101 per month in El Nido and $1,797 in Makati. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 419% less in El Nido. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $146 per month in El Nido and $822 in Makati. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in El Nido, where all-in costs run around $734, than in Makati at $1,198. In El Nido it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Makati has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $734 in El Nido to $1,198 in Makati. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 El Nido. 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.