Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Bacong

For one person, living is cheaper in Bacong: $618 a month against $1,174 in Makati, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Makati, Philippines
Bacong, Philippines
Makati
🇵🇭 Philippines
$1,174
/mo nomad
Bacong
🇵🇭 Philippines
$618
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Makati and in Bacong

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Makati and in Bacong actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,174 per month in Makati vs $618 in Bacong, rent included.

  • Makati $1,174
  • Bacong $618

A couple spends around $1,962 per month in Makati vs $983 in Bacong, rent included.

  • Makati $1,962
  • Bacong $983

A family of three spends $2,750 per month in Makati vs $1,348 in Bacong, rent included.

  • Makati $2,750
  • Bacong $1,348

Makati costs about 90% more than Bacong, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Makati and Bacong are more affordable than the global median – Makati 13% lower, Bacong 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makati
Bacong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.72 ₱300
$2.71 ₱172
74.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.37 ₱1,674
$18.54 ₱1,177
42.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.01 ₱255
$3.15 ₱200
27.30%
Cappuccino
$2.46 ₱156
$2.08 ₱132
18.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 ₱66.8
$0.67 ₱42.82
56.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₱37.49
$0.33 ₱21.26
78.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.16 ₱73.7
$0.84 ₱53.2
38.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₱153
$1.70 ₱108
41.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makati
Bacong
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.86 ₱118
$1.64 ₱104
13.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 ₱71.3
$1.17 ₱74.3
-4.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 ₱62.6
$0.87 ₱55.5
13.79%
Eggs
$2.20 ₱139
$1.95 ₱124
12.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.51 ₱477
$5.81 ₱369
29.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.63 ₱294
$4.09 ₱260
13.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.01 ₱445
$5.93 ₱377
18.21%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ₱205
$3.27 ₱208
-1.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 ₱121
$1.01 ₱64.4
88.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.76 ₱175
$3.01 ₱191
-8.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.88 ₱56.1
$1.42 ₱90.2
-38.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 ₱84.4
$2.36 ₱150
-43.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ₱87.5
$2.76 ₱175
-50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 ₱119
$1.44 ₱91.6
29.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ₱36.98
$0.74 ₱47.18
-21.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.03 ₱192
$3.02 ₱192
0.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.67 ₱614
$6.11 ₱388
58.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 ₱79.6
$1.08 ₱68.5
15.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 ₱128
$1.26 ₱80.1
59.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Makati
Bacong
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.76 ₱48.44
$0.24 ₱15.28
216.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.7 ₱3,663
$12.37 ₱785
366.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.75 ₱47.73
$0.80 ₱50.8
-6.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.20 ₱12.69
$0.35 ₱22.23
-42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.96 ₱124
$2.40 ₱153
-18.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ₱79.6
$0.90 ₱57.2
38.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ₱1.3M
$21.2K ₱1.3M
-1.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9K ₱1.2M
$19.3K ₱1.2M
-1.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makati
Bacong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 ₱7,037
$49.80 ₱3,162
122.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.82 ₱1,068
$9.22 ₱585
82.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.00 ₱1,524
$26.84 ₱1,704
-10.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makati
Bacong
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.6 ₱3,594
$31.50 ₱2,000
79.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.14 ₱898
$5.06 ₱321
179.45%
Cinema Ticket
$6.31 ₱400
$4.67 ₱296
35.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makati
Bacong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$619 ₱39.3K
$30.67 ₱1,947
1919.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 ₱332.1K
$7,920 ₱502.8K
-33.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makati
Bacong
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ₱3,518
$23.88 ₱1,516
132.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.32 ₱1,988
$19.30 ₱1,225
62.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.0 ₱4,444
$54.1 ₱3,437
29.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.8 ₱3,672
$23.13 ₱1,468
150.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makati
Bacong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$820 ₱52.0K
$148 ₱9,393
454.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$495 ₱31.4K
$169 ₱10.8K
191.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,487 ₱157.9K
$485 ₱30.8K
412.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,294 ₱82.2K
$355 ₱22.5K
264.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,608 ₱356.0K
$2,635 ₱167.3K
112.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,558 ₱225.9K
$1,104 ₱70.1K
222.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makati
Bacong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ₱33.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
7.33
-4.50%

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

Last update for Makati: November 2, 2026

Last update for Bacong: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Makati
$495
Bacong
$169 65.8% $325
Groceries & Markets
Makati
$203
Bacong
$184 9.3% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makati
$152
Bacong
$86 43.4% $66
Eating Out
Makati
$97
Bacong
$68 29.8% $29
Clothing & Footwear
Makati
$97
Bacong
$54 43.9% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Makati
$69
Bacong
$41 41% $28
Getting Around
Makati
$62
Bacong
$16 74.6% $47

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $820 in Makati versus $148 in Bacong. 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 $26 in Makati versus $19 in Bacong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $184 – making Bacong the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Makati
🇵🇭 Bacong
🕒 Local time
23:17 11:17 PM
23:17 11:17 PM
Same time as Makati
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
582,602
41,207
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 63.49 PHP (100 PHP = 1.58 USD). 1 EUR = 71.17 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Makati Bacong 640 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Makati
  • Bacong

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bacong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bacong cheaper than Makati?
Yes – Makati is pricier by about 90%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,761 per month in Makati and $927 in Bacong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bacong, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $148 there versus $820 in Makati.
Is eating out cheaper in Makati or in Bacong?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26 in Makati and $19 in Bacong. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Makati and in Bacong?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,174 in Makati and $618 in Bacong. That makes Bacong about 47% cheaper.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Makati or in Bacong?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bacong, where all-in costs run around $618, than in Makati at $1,174. In Bacong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Makati or Bacong more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bacong – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Bacong is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 47% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Makati vs other spots: cost of living compared

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