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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,188 per month in Makati vs $688 in Alabang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Makati vs $1,094 in Alabang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Makati vs $1,499 in Alabang, rent included.

Makati costs about 73% more than Alabang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Alabang are more affordable than the global median – Makati 11% lower, Alabang 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱402

$4.12 ₱254

58.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,770

$21.61 ₱1,330

108.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$2.19 ₱135

118.72%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.67 ₱164

10.49%

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

$1.20 ₱73.8

$0.94 ₱58.1

27.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.43

$0.37 ₱22.80

56.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.25 ₱77.0

87.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱219

$2.63 ₱162

35.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.54 ₱94.8

38.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$1.20 ₱73.9

19.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$0.73 ₱44.79

52.05%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$1.94 ₱119

20.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱492

$6.87 ₱423

16.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$3.04 ₱187

48.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$6.73 ₱414

14.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱279

$2.15 ₱133

111.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.41 ₱86.7

40.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$1.55 ₱95.6

75.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.64 ₱101

39.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$1.27 ₱78.2

171.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$3.17 ₱195

-11.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$1.59 ₱97.6

-28.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.7

$0.69 ₱42.26

43.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱184

$2.11 ₱130

41.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱493

$7.90 ₱487

1.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$1.23 ₱75.7

1.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.73 ₱106

29.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.57

$0.26 ₱15.89

96.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.05

$0.82 ₱50.3

-7.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.20

$0.24 ₱14.81

-45.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.16 ₱133

59.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$1.10 ₱67.8

4.55%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

30.24%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

8.87%

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

$170 ₱10.4K

$46.97 ₱2,892

261.23%

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

$27.66 ₱1,703

$32.80 ₱2,019

-15.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,203

$29.90 ₱1,841

19.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,371

$34.32 ₱2,113

59.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

$4.37 ₱269

175.29%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱505

$3.48 ₱215

135.63%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$66.9 ₱4,116

384.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱472.8K

$2,844 ₱175.1K

170.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,628

$32.18 ₱1,981

83.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,209

$17.39 ₱1,070

106.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,174

$98.4 ₱6,057

-14.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,609

$52.2 ₱3,214

136.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.4K

$251 ₱15.5K

161.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$174 ₱10.7K

124.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱139.9K

$580 ₱35.7K

291.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.0K

$399 ₱24.5K

152.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

$2,314 ₱142.4K

159.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

$1,045 ₱64.4K

257.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Alabang: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $657 in Makati versus $251 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 $22.00 in Alabang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 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 73%, 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 $1,783 per month in Makati and $1,032 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 $22.00 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 $688, than in Makati at $1,188. 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.