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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Makati vs $674 in Bacong, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,017 per month in Makati vs $1,080 in Bacong, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,812 per month in Makati vs $1,486 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

$6.85 ₱414

$2.61 ₱158

162.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.09 ₱2,669

$21.10 ₱1,278

108.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ₱301

$3.65 ₱221

36.16%

Cappuccino

$2.96 ₱179

$2.07 ₱125

43.00%

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

$1.15 ₱69.5

$0.54 ₱32.65

112.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₱34.64

$0.32 ₱19.42

78.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ₱141

$0.95 ₱57.3

144.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 ₱214

$1.73 ₱104

104.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₱131

$1.84 ₱111

17.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱90.3

$1.28 ₱77.3

16.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.5

$0.89 ₱54.2

19.10%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱135

$2.17 ₱131

2.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 ₱500

$5.79 ₱350

42.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱267

$4.30 ₱260

2.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 ₱457

$6.89 ₱417

9.43%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 ₱276

$3.75 ₱227

21.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₱115

$1.14 ₱69.2

66.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱164

$3.41 ₱206

-20.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱131

$1.54 ₱92.9

40.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.31 ₱200

$2.59 ₱157

27.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱170

$3.02 ₱183

-6.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱65.8

$1.67 ₱101

-34.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱61.6

$0.91 ₱55.3

12.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱181

$3.22 ₱195

-7.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.52 ₱516

$5.71 ₱346

49.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱75.6

$1.33 ₱80.3

-6.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₱139

$1.39 ₱84.1

64.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.02

$0.26 ₱15.67

111.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.57 ₱216

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱47.06

$0.69 ₱41.75

13.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.10

$0.25 ₱15.22

-52.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ₱210

$2.71 ₱164

28.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.8

$1.07 ₱65.1

7.48%

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

$33.5K ₱2.0M

$23.9K ₱1.4M

40.47%

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

$21.7K ₱1.3M

$19.5K ₱1.2M

11.15%

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

$169 ₱10.2K

$57.2 ₱3,463

195.44%

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

$26.89 ₱1,628

$31.33 ₱1,897

-14.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.15 ₱2,189

$29.72 ₱1,799

21.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.4 ₱3,356

$33.95 ₱2,056

63.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱707

$4.35 ₱264

168.74%

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 ₱480

$5.40 ₱327

46.85%

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

$324 ₱19.6K

$35.54 ₱2,152

810.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,613 ₱460.9K

$4,264 ₱258.2K

78.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 ₱3,584

$45.07 ₱2,729

31.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.26 ₱2,135

$22.68 ₱1,373

55.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 ₱5,215

$61.6 ₱3,727

39.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,414

$26.61 ₱1,611

360.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$661 ₱40.0K

$162 ₱9,795

308.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱24.0K

$178 ₱10.8K

122.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,254 ₱136.5K

$576 ₱34.9K

291.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,023 ₱61.9K

$395 ₱23.9K

158.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,076 ₱367.9K

$2,746 ₱166.3K

121.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,885 ₱235.2K

$1,064 ₱64.4K

265.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$706 ₱42.7K

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Bacong: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $661 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 $44.00 in Makati versus $21.00 in Bacong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $202 – 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 $1,834 per month in Makati and $1,011 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 $1,223 in Makati and $674 in Bacong. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $324 per month in Makati and $35.54 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 $674, than in Makati at $1,223. 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.