Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Bacong Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Bacong

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,226 per month in Makati vs $679 in Bacong, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,003 per month in Makati vs $1,107 in Bacong, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,780 per month in Makati vs $1,535 in Bacong, rent included.

Makati costs about 81% more than Bacong, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Makati and Bacong are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Bacong 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$2.68 ₱164

146.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$21.53 ₱1,318

107.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$3.45 ₱211

38.26%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.07 ₱127

42.51%

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

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.54 ₱32.95

112.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.32 ₱19.83

62.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$0.96 ₱58.6

146.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$1.74 ₱106

107.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.87 ₱115

14.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.26 ₱76.9

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$0.88 ₱53.6

20.45%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$2.21 ₱135

6.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$5.98 ₱366

31.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$4.22 ₱258

6.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$6.84 ₱418

14.04%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$3.68 ₱225

20.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.19 ₱73.0

65.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$3.41 ₱209

-24.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.54 ₱94.3

40.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$2.64 ₱162

29.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$3.10 ₱189

-9.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$1.62 ₱98.9

-32.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$0.85 ₱51.8

10.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$3.23 ₱198

-8.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$6.39 ₱391

23.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$1.28 ₱78.4

-3.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$1.45 ₱89.0

55.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.28 ₱17.28

96.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.73 ₱44.65

5.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.25 ₱15.31

-56.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$2.59 ₱158

39.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.04 ₱63.7

10.58%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$23.9K ₱1.5M

39.65%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

11.43%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$57.5 ₱3,516

201.64%

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

$27.42 ₱1,678

$31.15 ₱1,907

-11.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$30.54 ₱1,869

18.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$34.23 ₱2,095

60.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

$4.52 ₱277

159.29%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$5.20 ₱318

54.81%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$34.94 ₱2,139

825.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$4,374 ₱267.7K

76.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$46.08 ₱2,821

29.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$23.32 ₱1,428

54.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$61.1 ₱3,739

40.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$26.45 ₱1,619

361.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$162 ₱9,923

307.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$179 ₱10.9K

118.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$590 ₱36.1K

283.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$397 ₱24.3K

159.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

$2,437 ₱149.2K

148.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

$1,095 ₱67.0K

250.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

-16.63%

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

Last update for Makati: July 28, 2026

Last update for Bacong: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Makati versus $162 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 $45.00 in Makati versus $22.00 in Bacong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $203 – making Bacong 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 Bacong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Makati is pricier by about 81%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,840 per month in Makati and $1,019 in Bacong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,226 in Makati and $679 in Bacong. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $323 per month in Makati and $34.94 in Bacong. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bacong, where all-in costs run around $679, than in Makati at $1,226. In Bacong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Bacong. 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.