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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,237 per month in Makati vs $746 in Alabang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,035 per month in Makati vs $1,120 in Alabang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Makati vs $1,495 in Alabang, rent included.

Makati costs about 66% more than Alabang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱401

$4.07 ₱254

57.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,495

$19.14 ₱1,193

109.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱286

$2.77 ₱173

65.34%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱162

$2.44 ₱152

6.56%

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

$1.13 ₱70.2

$0.74 ₱46.17

52.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱29.94

$0.34 ₱21.25

41.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱150

$1.01 ₱63.0

138.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱203

$1.90 ₱119

71.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.67 ₱104

16.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.5

$1.17 ₱72.9

5.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.6

$0.87 ₱54.4

22.99%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱154

$1.81 ₱113

36.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱454

$5.12 ₱319

42.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱302

$3.38 ₱211

43.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱431

$7.34 ₱458

-5.86%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱248

$2.30 ₱143

73.04%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.40 ₱87.2

42.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱201

$2.37 ₱148

35.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.03 ₱64.5

130.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱215

$1.69 ₱106

104.14%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱214

$1.79 ₱112

91.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.2

$0.67 ₱41.69

65.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.3

$0.53 ₱33.30

118.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱160

$2.78 ₱174

-7.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱504

$7.48 ₱466

8.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.0

$0.97 ₱60.4

39.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱128

$1.76 ₱110

16.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.3

$0.25 ₱15.43

292.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,609

$11.03 ₱688

424.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.33

$0.79 ₱49.26

-22.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.23 ₱14.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.97 ₱123

-5.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱73.6

$1.14 ₱71.3

3.51%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.9K ₱1.4M

-1.02%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

1.52%

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

$154 ₱9,630

$140 ₱8,743

10.14%

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

$16.28 ₱1,015

$14.39 ₱897

13.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,953

$23.52 ₱1,467

33.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,365

$31.55 ₱1,968

71.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱892

$4.92 ₱307

190.85%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱443

$5.31 ₱331

33.71%

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

$783 ₱48.8K

$72.1 ₱4,494

986.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱459.8K

$2,476 ₱154.4K

197.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,760

$28.50 ₱1,777

111.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,345

$19.36 ₱1,208

94.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,124

$72.7 ₱4,535

13.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,515

$55.8 ₱3,477

87.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.1K

$226 ₱14.1K

234.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.8K

$170 ₱10.6K

153.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱145.7K

$510 ₱31.8K

358.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱66.8K

$354 ₱22.1K

202.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱370.5K

$2,556 ₱159.4K

132.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱238.0K

$1,055 ₱65.8K

261.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱37.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

6.75

11.11%

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

Last update for Makati: September 6, 2026

Last update for Alabang: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $755 in Makati versus $226 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 $40.00 in Makati versus $19.00 in Alabang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $169 – 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 66%, 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 $1,855 per month in Makati and $1,119 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.

Groceries cost about 37% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Makati and $19.00 in Alabang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Alabang, where all-in costs run around $746, than in Makati at $1,237. 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.