Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Alabang Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Alabang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Makati vs $686 in Alabang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,009 per month in Makati vs $1,093 in Alabang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,786 per month in Makati vs $1,499 in Alabang, rent included.

Makati costs about 80% more than Alabang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Alabang are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Alabang 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ₱419

$3.98 ₱246

70.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.15 ₱2,784

$21.12 ₱1,302

113.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ₱304

$2.25 ₱139

119.11%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱177

$2.64 ₱163

8.71%

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

$1.19 ₱73.5

$0.97 ₱59.9

22.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.76

$0.37 ₱22.93

51.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱151

$1.26 ₱77.9

93.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₱225

$2.60 ₱160

40.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.62 ₱99.8

32.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.4

$1.17 ₱72.1

22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$0.73 ₱44.83

47.95%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$1.97 ₱121

18.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱503

$7.05 ₱435

15.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱273

$2.93 ₱180

51.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$6.69 ₱413

14.20%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱282

$2.13 ₱131

114.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.38 ₱85.0

39.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$1.65 ₱102

63.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$1.63 ₱101

38.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$1.21 ₱74.7

171.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$3.27 ₱202

-12.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.8

$1.55 ₱95.8

-30.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.3

$0.73 ₱45.31

35.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱181

$2.07 ₱128

42.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

$7.23 ₱446

14.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.1

$1.21 ₱74.9

-0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.81 ₱112

29.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.71

$0.28 ₱17.40

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.78 ₱48.10

3.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.44

$0.22 ₱13.49

-45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.14 ₱132

67.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.8

$1.13 ₱69.7

-2.65%

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$25.8K ₱1.6M

32.98%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

5.33%

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

$172 ₱10.6K

$47.23 ₱2,912

264.22%

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

$26.94 ₱1,661

$32.50 ₱2,004

-17.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.49 ₱2,250

$29.42 ₱1,814

24.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,452

$33.84 ₱2,086

65.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₱727

$4.52 ₱279

160.84%

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 ₱487

$3.60 ₱222

119.44%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$65.8 ₱4,059

386.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,538 ₱464.8K

$2,768 ₱170.7K

172.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,717

$31.71 ₱1,955

90.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₱2,197

$18.01 ₱1,111

97.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 ₱5,277

$96.4 ₱5,944

-11.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,516

$52.7 ₱3,249

131.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱41.1K

$248 ₱15.3K

168.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$176 ₱10.9K

121.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 ₱139.4K

$593 ₱36.5K

281.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₱63.1K

$398 ₱24.5K

157.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.6K

$2,690 ₱165.9K

123.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.5K

$881 ₱54.3K

337.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

8.13

-17.96%

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

Last update for Makati: May 30, 2026

Last update for Alabang: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $666 in Makati versus $248 in Alabang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Makati versus $21.00 in Alabang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $178 – making Alabang 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

Makati vs Alabang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Makati is pricier by about 80%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,849 per month in Makati and $1,029 in Alabang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Makati and $21.00 in Alabang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Makati, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Alabang, where all-in costs run around $686, than in Makati at $1,232. In Alabang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Alabang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Alabang. 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.