Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Albay Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Albay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,237 in Makati versus $731 in Albay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Makati versus $1,100 in Albay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,470 in Albay.

Living in Makati is roughly 69% more expensive than in Albay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Albay 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱401

$3.65 ₱228

76.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,495

$16.73 ₱1,043

139.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱286

$2.77 ₱172

65.34%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱162

$2.15 ₱134

20.93%

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

$1.13 ₱70.2

$0.59 ₱36.49

91.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱29.94

$0.32 ₱19.77

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱150

$1.09 ₱67.9

121.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱203

$1.87 ₱116

73.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.68 ₱105

15.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.5

$1.12 ₱69.9

9.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.6

$0.91 ₱56.9

17.58%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱154

$1.94 ₱121

27.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱454

$5.31 ₱331

37.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱302

$4.16 ₱259

16.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱431

$7.34 ₱458

-5.86%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱248

$2.29 ₱143

73.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.57 ₱97.7

27.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱201

$2.35 ₱147

37.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.13 ₱70.7

109.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱215

$2.12 ₱132

62.74%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱214

$2.02 ₱126

69.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.2

$0.78 ₱48.91

42.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.3

$0.52 ₱32.69

123.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱160

$2.89 ₱180

-11.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱504

$8.17 ₱510

-1.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.0

$0.98 ₱60.9

37.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱128

$2.01 ₱125

1.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.3

$0.27 ₱16.86

262.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,609

$11.14 ₱695

419.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.33

$0.78 ₱48.58

-21.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.25 ₱15.67

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.89 ₱118

-1.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱73.6

$1.13 ₱70.2

4.42%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.8K ₱1.4M

-0.71%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.5K ₱1.2M

-0.65%

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

$154 ₱9,630

$122 ₱7,636

26.12%

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

$16.28 ₱1,015

$15.25 ₱951

6.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,953

$24.58 ₱1,533

27.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,365

$31.78 ₱1,982

69.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱892

$4.76 ₱297

200.63%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱443

$5.28 ₱329

34.47%

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

$783 ₱48.8K

$135 ₱8,447

478.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱459.8K

$8,000 ₱498.9K

-7.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,760

$32.79 ₱2,045

83.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,345

$19.93 ₱1,243

88.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,124

$72.0 ₱4,487

14.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,515

$56.6 ₱3,532

84.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.1K

$269 ₱16.8K

181.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.8K

$173 ₱10.8K

148.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱145.7K

$493 ₱30.7K

374.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱66.8K

$356 ₱22.2K

201.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱370.5K

$2,618 ₱163.3K

126.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱238.0K

$1,025 ₱63.9K

272.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱37.8K

$165 ₱10.3K

267.56%

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 Albay: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $755 in Makati and $269 in Albay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 268% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $17.00 in Albay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $179 per month, with Albay cheaper across the board.

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 Albay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Makati and Albay differ by about 69% in total monthly costs ($1,237 vs $731 including rent). Albay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 268% higher in Makati, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $755 in Makati versus $269 in Albay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Albay – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $40.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $731 in Albay versus $1,237 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Albay but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Albay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Makati and Albay are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Albay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.