🙂A single person spends $772 per month in Ligao City vs $1,204 in Makati, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,197 per month in Ligao City vs $2,023 in Makati, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,622 per month in Ligao City vs $2,841 in Makati, rent included.
🙂Ligao City is about 36% cheaper than Makati, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Ligao City and Makati are more affordable than the global median – Ligao City42% lower, Makati10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.65₱225
$6.69₱412
-45.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.44₱1,075
$44.22₱2,728
-60.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.39₱209
$4.88₱301
-30.53%
Cappuccino
$2.48₱153
$2.93₱181
-15.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83₱51.2
$1.19₱73.7
-30.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39₱24.24
$0.56₱34.78
-30.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.35₱83.3
$2.42₱150
-44.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16₱133
$3.62₱223
-40.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82₱113
$2.20₱136
-17.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.23₱75.6
$1.49₱92.0
-17.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94₱57.7
$1.07₱65.7
-12.15%
Eggs
$2.09₱129
$2.34₱144
-10.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.09₱499
$8.19₱505
-1.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.15₱256
$4.42₱273
-6.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.55₱466
$7.71₱475
-2.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.94₱181
$4.36₱269
-32.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59₱97.9
$2.00₱123
-20.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.72₱168
$2.57₱159
5.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56₱96.1
$2.23₱138
-30.04%
Potato(1kg)
$2.24₱138
$3.45₱213
-35.07%
Onion(1kg)
$2.55₱157
$2.86₱176
-10.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11₱68.8
$1.14₱70.0
-2.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76₱47.13
$1.02₱62.7
-25.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81₱173
$2.84₱175
-1.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05₱497
$8.12₱501
-0.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15₱71.1
$1.25₱77.1
-8.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97₱122
$2.32₱143
-15.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₱17.42
$0.54₱33.40
-48.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$3.64₱225
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.82₱50.6
$0.78₱48.35
5.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₱13.49
$0.11₱6.49
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.15₱133
$3.65₱225
-41.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11₱68.4
$1.10₱67.9
0.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K₱1.7M
$33.4K₱2.1M
-19.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K₱1.3M
$21.5K₱1.3M
-3.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$112₱6,914
$171₱10.5K
-34.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.68₱2,016
$26.96₱1,663
21.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.96₱1,663
$35.97₱2,219
-25.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.45₱2,063
$55.6₱3,430
-39.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.46₱275
$11.87₱732
-62.43%
Cinema Ticket
$5.83₱360
$8.19₱505
-28.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153₱9,422
$322₱19.9K
-52.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,357₱268.7K
$7,811₱481.8K
-44.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.15₱2,785
$58.8₱3,628
-23.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.57₱1,639
$35.76₱2,206
-25.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.1₱4,573
$83.9₱5,174
-11.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.0₱3,328
$123₱7,612
-56.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$270₱16.6K
$667₱41.2K
-59.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179₱11.0K
$403₱24.8K
-55.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591₱36.5K
$2,307₱142.3K
-74.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$399₱24.6K
$1,015₱62.6K
-60.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,374₱146.4K
$6,283₱387.5K
-62.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$333₱20.5K
$3,903₱240.8K
-91.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$287₱17.7K
$712₱43.9K
-59.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
6.67
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ligao City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Makati: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $270 in Ligao City versus $667 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 148% 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 $17.00 in Ligao City versus $44.00 in Makati. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $236 – making Ligao 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
Ligao City vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Makati cheaper than Ligao City?
Yes – Makati is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,158 per month in Ligao City and $1,807 in Makati. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ligao City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Ligao City vs Makati?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $772 in Ligao City and $1,204 in Makati. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $153 per month in Ligao City and $322 in Makati. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ligao City or Makati?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ligao City, where all-in costs run around $772, than in Makati at $1,204. In Ligao City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ligao City or Makati more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ligao City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ligao City or Makati?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ligao 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.
Ligao City vs other spots: cost of living compared