Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ligao City and Makati

For one person, living is cheaper in Ligao City: $726 a month against $1,230 in Makati, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ligao City, Philippines
Makati, Philippines
Ligao City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$726
/mo nomad
Makati
🇵🇭 Philippines
$1,230
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ligao 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 Ligao City and in Makati actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $726 per month in Ligao City vs $1,230 in Makati, rent included.

  • Ligao City $726
  • Makati $1,230

A couple spends around $1,106 per month in Ligao City vs $2,137 in Makati, rent included.

  • Ligao City $1,106
  • Makati $2,137

A family of three spends $1,486 per month in Ligao City vs $3,044 in Makati, rent included.

  • Ligao City $1,486
  • Makati $3,044

Ligao City is about 41% cheaper than Makati, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Ligao City and Makati are more affordable than the global median – Ligao City 47% lower, Makati 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43 ₱283
$6.40 ₱409
-30.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.56 ₱1,058
$38.45 ₱2,457
-56.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.81 ₱180
$4.78 ₱306
-41.21%
Cappuccino
$2.20 ₱140
$2.59 ₱166
-15.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₱40.92
$1.09 ₱69.9
-41.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₱20.83
$0.49 ₱31.39
-32.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.18 ₱75.6
$2.39 ₱153
-50.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 ₱134
$3.18 ₱203
-34.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 ₱103
$1.80 ₱115
-10.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.14 ₱72.6
$1.26 ₱80.8
-9.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 ₱57.9
$1.03 ₱65.9
-11.65%
Eggs
$1.83 ₱117
$2.37 ₱151
-22.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.54 ₱354
$6.91 ₱441
-19.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.17 ₱267
$4.93 ₱315
-15.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.84 ₱437
$6.74 ₱431
1.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.41 ₱154
$4.12 ₱263
-41.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 ₱101
$1.90 ₱122
-16.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 ₱148
$3.19 ₱204
-27.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.12 ₱71.4
$2.25 ₱144
-50.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 ₱133
$3.55 ₱227
-41.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 ₱139
$3.50 ₱223
-37.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₱69.5
$1.07 ₱68.1
1.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ₱34.74
$1.13 ₱71.9
-52.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ₱184
$2.60 ₱166
10.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.49 ₱479
$7.85 ₱502
-4.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 ₱59.9
$1.29 ₱82.6
-27.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 ₱122
$1.93 ₱124
-0.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱16.24
$0.88 ₱56.4
-71.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.54 ₱865
$56.3 ₱3,595
-75.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.71 ₱45.17
$0.65 ₱41.59
9.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.19 ₱12.20
$0.21 ₱13.38
-9.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ₱116
$1.90 ₱122
-4.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ₱75.3
$1.28 ₱81.6
-7.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K ₱1.4M
$20.8K ₱1.3M
8.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K ₱1.4M
$18.9K ₱1.2M
12.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 ₱7,742
$151 ₱9,669
-19.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.23 ₱845
$15.59 ₱996
-15.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.19 ₱1,546
$31.38 ₱2,005
-22.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.79 ₱2,031
$53.3 ₱3,403
-40.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.13 ₱328
$14.04 ₱897
-63.46%
Cinema Ticket
$5.06 ₱323
$7.22 ₱461
-29.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$129 ₱8,253
$776 ₱49.6K
-83.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,910 ₱505.4K
$7,391 ₱472.2K
7.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.79 ₱2,095
$59.9 ₱3,826
-45.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.91 ₱1,208
$36.96 ₱2,361
-48.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.6 ₱4,510
$81.0 ₱5,177
-12.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.0 ₱3,448
$101 ₱6,446
-46.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$253 ₱16.1K
$829 ₱53.0K
-69.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$168 ₱10.7K
$429 ₱27.4K
-60.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$496 ₱31.7K
$2,151 ₱137.4K
-76.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$347 ₱22.2K
$1,308 ₱83.6K
-73.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,649 ₱169.3K
$5,714 ₱365.1K
-53.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,130 ₱72.2K
$3,568 ₱228.0K
-68.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ligao City
Makati
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$266 ₱17.0K
$587 ₱37.5K
-54.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.92
7.5
-7.73%

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

Last update for Ligao City: October 26, 2026

Last update for Makati: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Ligao City
$178
Makati
$227 27.9% $50
Accommodation & Living
Ligao City
$168
Makati
$429 156% $261
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ligao City
$159
Makati
$198 25% $40
Eating Out
Ligao City
$84
Makati
$121 44.1% $37
Clothing & Footwear
Ligao City
$79
Makati
$125 58.1% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Ligao City
$42
Makati
$68 61.5% $26
Getting Around
Ligao City
$16
Makati
$61 279% $45

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $253 in Ligao City versus $829 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 2.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17 in Ligao City versus $38 in Makati. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $227 – making Ligao City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Ligao City
🇵🇭 Makati
🕒 Local time
00:07 12:07 AM
00:07 12:07 AM
Same time as Ligao City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,955
582,602
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 63.89 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.11 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ligao City Makati 310 km
From you
  • Ligao 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
Ligao City vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ligao City cheaper than Makati?
Yes – Makati is pricier by about 69%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,089 per month in Ligao City and $1,845 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $253 there versus $829 in Makati.
How do food prices compare in Ligao City and in Makati?
Groceries cost about 28% more in Makati, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Ligao City or in Makati?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $17 in Ligao City and $38 in Makati. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ligao City or in Makati?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ligao City, where all-in costs run around $726, than in Makati at $1,230. 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 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.

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