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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $735 per month in Iligan City vs $1,226 in Makati, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,111 per month in Iligan City vs $2,005 in Makati, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,487 per month in Iligan City vs $2,783 in Makati, rent included.

Iligan City is about 40% cheaper than Makati, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Iligan City and Makati are more affordable than the global median – Iligan City 46% lower, Makati 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 ₱227

$6.47 ₱405

-44.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.64 ₱1,106

$40.29 ₱2,525

-56.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.73 ₱171

$4.70 ₱295

-41.91%

Cappuccino

$2.48 ₱155

$2.65 ₱166

-6.42%

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

$0.62 ₱39.12

$1.11 ₱69.7

-44.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₱19.05

$0.45 ₱28.40

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.12 ₱70.0

$2.35 ₱147

-52.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ₱115

$3.20 ₱200

-42.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 ₱123

$1.91 ₱120

3.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 ₱70.1

$1.28 ₱80.5

-12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ₱56.9

$1.05 ₱65.6

-13.33%

Eggs

$1.95 ₱122

$2.48 ₱155

-21.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.37 ₱336

$6.98 ₱437

-23.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 ₱268

$4.85 ₱304

-11.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.02 ₱440

$6.77 ₱424

3.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 ₱142

$4.12 ₱258

-44.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱96.1

$2.00 ₱125

-23.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₱151

$3.19 ₱200

-24.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱73.5

$2.28 ₱143

-48.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 ₱127

$3.52 ₱221

-42.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 ₱125

$3.59 ₱225

-44.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 ₱47.23

$1.10 ₱69.2

-31.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.80

$1.14 ₱71.6

-54.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.53 ₱159

$2.57 ₱161

-1.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.82 ₱490

$7.99 ₱501

-2.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₱57.8

$1.32 ₱82.7

-30.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ₱117

$2.03 ₱127

-7.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ₱17.09

$0.98 ₱61.4

-72.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.93 ₱747

$57.6 ₱3,610

-79.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱54.4

$0.67 ₱42.10

29.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.42

$0.21 ₱13.14

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 ₱67.7

$1.24 ₱77.9

-12.90%

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

$23.8K ₱1.5M

$21.1K ₱1.3M

12.69%

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

$21.2K ₱1.3M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

7.63%

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

$108 ₱6,781

$152 ₱9,533

-28.87%

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

$15.08 ₱945

$16.13 ₱1,011

-6.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.61 ₱1,543

$31.63 ₱1,982

-22.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.38 ₱1,967

$54.5 ₱3,413

-42.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.28 ₱331

$14.45 ₱906

-63.46%

Cinema Ticket

$5.03 ₱315

$6.95 ₱436

-27.63%

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

$115 ₱7,207

$803 ₱50.3K

-85.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,666 ₱480.4K

$7,454 ₱467.1K

2.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.95 ₱2,002

$59.9 ₱3,752

-46.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.20 ₱1,328

$37.50 ₱2,350

-43.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.7 ₱4,555

$81.8 ₱5,126

-11.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.30 ₱3,090

$104 ₱6,538

-52.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 ₱6,961

$752 ₱47.1K

-85.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 ₱10.8K

$429 ₱26.9K

-59.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$504 ₱31.6K

$2,279 ₱142.8K

-77.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 ₱22.1K

$1,054 ₱66.0K

-66.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,248 ₱140.8K

$5,865 ₱367.5K

-61.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$945 ₱59.2K

$3,745 ₱234.7K

-74.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$199 ₱12.5K

$610 ₱38.2K

-67.31%

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 Iligan City: September 15, 2026

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $111 in Iligan City versus $752 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 206% 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 Iligan City versus $40.00 in Makati. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $180 vs $231 – making Iligan 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $735 in Iligan City, $1,226 in Makati – roughly 67% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,103 per month in Iligan City and $1,840 in Makati. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 383% less in Iligan City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $115 per month in Iligan City and $803 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 Iligan City, where all-in costs run around $735, than in Makati at $1,226. In Iligan City 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 $735 in Iligan City to $1,226 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 Iligan 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.