Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Iligan City and Makati

For one person, living is cheaper in Iligan City: $829 a month against $1,174 in Makati, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Iligan City, Philippines
Makati, Philippines
Iligan City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$829
/mo nomad
Makati
🇵🇭 Philippines
$1,174
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Iligan City and in Makati

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Iligan City and in Makati actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $829 per month in Iligan City vs $1,174 in Makati, rent included.

  • Iligan City $829
  • Makati $1,174

A couple spends around $1,236 per month in Iligan City vs $1,962 in Makati, rent included.

  • Iligan City $1,236
  • Makati $1,962

A family of three spends $1,643 per month in Iligan City vs $2,750 in Makati, rent included.

  • Iligan City $1,643
  • Makati $2,750

Iligan City is about 29% cheaper than Makati, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Iligan City and Makati are more affordable than the global median – Iligan City 39% lower, Makati 13% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iligan City
Makati
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.64 ₱231
$4.72 ₱300
-22.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.92 ₱1,264
$26.37 ₱1,673
-24.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.38 ₱215
$4.01 ₱255
-15.71%
Cappuccino
$2.12 ₱134
$2.46 ₱156
-13.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ₱43.10
$1.05 ₱66.7
-35.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₱24.62
$0.59 ₱37.47
-33.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.27 ₱80.8
$1.16 ₱73.6
9.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 ₱137
$2.41 ₱153
-10.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iligan City
Makati
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 ₱112
$1.86 ₱118
-5.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.18 ₱75.0
$1.12 ₱71.2
5.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ₱60.4
$0.99 ₱62.5
-4.04%
Eggs
$1.84 ₱117
$2.20 ₱139
-16.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.89 ₱311
$7.51 ₱477
-34.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.71 ₱299
$4.63 ₱294
1.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.53 ₱414
$7.01 ₱445
-6.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.16 ₱137
$3.23 ₱205
-33.13%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 ₱135
$1.90 ₱121
12.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 ₱142
$2.76 ₱175
-19.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.05 ₱66.9
$0.88 ₱56.0
19.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 ₱86.9
$1.33 ₱84.3
3.01%
Onion (1kg)
$1.31 ₱83.3
$1.38 ₱87.4
-5.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 ₱57.9
$1.87 ₱119
-51.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₱30.08
$0.58 ₱36.95
-18.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.01 ₱191
$3.03 ₱192
-0.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.60 ₱482
$9.67 ₱614
-21.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 ₱73.0
$1.25 ₱79.5
-8.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 ₱108
$2.01 ₱128
-14.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Iligan City
Makati
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.97
$0.76 ₱48.41
-67.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.22 ₱775
$57.7 ₱3,660
-78.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.71 ₱45.09
$0.75 ₱47.70
-5.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.20 ₱12.90
$0.20 ₱12.68
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.70 ₱108
$1.96 ₱124
-13.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 ₱80.0
$1.25 ₱79.6
0.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K ₱1.5M
$20.9K ₱1.3M
13.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K ₱1.3M
$18.9K ₱1.2M
10.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iligan City
Makati
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 ₱6,770
$111 ₱7,032
-3.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.73 ₱998
$16.82 ₱1,067
-6.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.59 ₱1,687
$24.00 ₱1,523
10.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iligan City
Makati
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.40 ₱1,992
$56.6 ₱3,591
-44.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.14 ₱897
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 ₱312
$6.31 ₱400
-22.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iligan City
Makati
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.5K
$619 ₱39.3K
-55.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,158 ₱454.1K
$5,231 ₱331.9K
36.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iligan City
Makati
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2 ₱3,183
$55.4 ₱3,515
-9.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.55 ₱1,558
$31.32 ₱1,987
-21.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.2 ₱4,582
$70.0 ₱4,441
3.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.4 ₱3,834
$57.8 ₱3,670
4.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iligan City
Makati
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$111 ₱7,047
$820 ₱52.0K
-86.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$274 ₱17.4K
$495 ₱31.4K
-44.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ₱51.5K
$2,487 ₱157.8K
-67.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$488 ₱31.0K
$1,294 ₱82.1K
-62.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,664 ₱232.4K
$5,608 ₱355.8K
-34.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,179 ₱138.2K
$3,558 ₱225.7K
-38.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iligan City
Makati
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$198 ₱12.5K
$524 ₱33.2K
-62.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
7
-

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

Last update for Iligan City: November 1, 2026

Last update for Makati: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Iligan City
$274
Makati
$495 80.3% $220
Groceries & Markets
Iligan City
$177
Makati
$203 15% $26
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iligan City
$149
Makati
$152 1.8% $2.6
Clothing & Footwear
Iligan City
$93
Makati
$97 3.5% $3.2
Eating Out
Iligan City
$80
Makati
$97 21.2% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Iligan City
$41
Makati
$69 67.9% $28
Getting Around
Iligan City
$15
Makati
$62 318% $48

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $111 in Iligan City versus $820 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 in Makati are about 2.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20 in Iligan City versus $26 in Makati. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $203 – making Iligan City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Iligan City
🇵🇭 Makati
🕒 Local time
06:29 6:29 AM
06:29 6:29 AM
Same time as Iligan City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
342,618
582,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 63.44 PHP (100 PHP = 1.58 USD). 1 EUR = 70.95 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Iligan City Makati 790 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Iligan City
  • Makati

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Iligan City vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Iligan City and in Makati compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $829 in Iligan City, $1,174 in Makati – Iligan City comes out roughly 29% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Iligan City compared to Makati?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,244 per month in Iligan City and $1,761 in Makati. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Iligan City and Makati?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Iligan City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $111 there versus $820 in Makati.
How do commuting costs compare in Iligan City and in Makati?
Public transport costs about 79% less in Iligan City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Iligan City and Makati?
Kindergarten costs $275 per month in Iligan City and $619 in Makati. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Where should families live: Iligan City or Makati?
Families tend to lean toward Iligan City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Iligan City and Makati?
If budget matters most, go with Iligan City. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Makati makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Iligan City vs other spots: cost of living compared

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