Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Bacolod Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Bacolod

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Makati vs $736 in Bacolod, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,009 per month in Makati vs $1,190 in Bacolod, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,786 per month in Makati vs $1,645 in Bacolod, rent included.

Makati costs about 68% more than Bacolod, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Makati and Bacolod are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Bacolod 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ₱419

$2.24 ₱138

203.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.15 ₱2,786

$17.17 ₱1,060

162.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ₱304

$3.97 ₱245

24.18%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱177

$2.96 ₱183

-3.04%

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

$1.19 ₱73.5

$1.64 ₱101

-27.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.79

$1.21 ₱74.9

-53.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱151

$1.28 ₱78.8

90.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₱226

$1.94 ₱119

88.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.73 ₱107

23.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.5

$1.25 ₱76.8

14.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.6

$0.91 ₱55.9

18.68%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$1.77 ₱109

32.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱504

$9.64 ₱595

-15.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱273

$7.62 ₱470

-41.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$7.76 ₱479

-1.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱282

$3.85 ₱238

18.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$2.73 ₱168

-29.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$2.58 ₱159

4.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$0.65 ₱39.85

246.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$2.32 ₱143

41.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$2.27 ₱140

25.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.9

$1.10 ₱67.9

-1.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.4

$1.13 ₱69.5

-12.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱182

$3.05 ₱188

-3.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.2

$0.96 ₱59.1

25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.99 ₱123

17.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.73

$0.18 ₱10.86

183.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

$10.62 ₱655

-66.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.78 ₱48.43

3.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.45

$0.24 ₱14.79

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.17 ₱134

64.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.24 ₱76.5

-11.29%

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$25.3K ₱1.6M

35.42%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$30.6K ₱1.9M

-29.77%

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

$172 ₱10.6K

$103 ₱6,364

66.78%

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

$26.94 ₱1,663

$35.67 ₱2,201

-24.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.49 ₱2,251

$27.89 ₱1,721

30.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,455

$26.22 ₱1,618

113.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₱727

$2.58 ₱159

356.98%

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 ₱488

$4.86 ₱300

62.55%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$35.27 ₱2,176

808.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,538 ₱465.1K

$4,330 ₱267.2K

74.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,720

$55.3 ₱3,412

9.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₱2,198

$26.06 ₱1,608

36.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 ₱5,280

$50.1 ₱3,090

70.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,521

$43.72 ₱2,698

178.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱41.1K

$227 ₱14.0K

193.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.1K

$148 ₱9,161

162.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 ₱139.4K

$495 ₱30.5K

356.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₱63.2K

$430 ₱26.5K

137.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.1K

$207 ₱12.8K

229.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

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

Last update for Makati: May 30, 2026

Last update for Bacolod: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $666 in Makati versus $227 in Bacolod. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 230% higher in Makati, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Makati versus $17.00 in Bacolod. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $218 – making Bacolod 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 Bacolod: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Makati, $736 in Bacolod – roughly 68% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,849 per month in Makati and $1,104 in Bacolod. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 197% less in Bacolod. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $321 per month in Makati and $35.27 in Bacolod. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bacolod, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Makati at $1,232. In Bacolod it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Makati has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $736 in Bacolod to $1,232 in Makati. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Bacolod. 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.