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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Makati vs $673 in Bacong, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,023 per month in Makati vs $1,103 in Bacong, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,841 per month in Makati vs $1,532 in Bacong, rent included.

Makati costs about 79% more than Bacong, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Makati and Bacong are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Bacong 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 ₱412

$2.67 ₱165

150.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.22 ₱2,728

$21.33 ₱1,315

107.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱301

$3.65 ₱225

33.70%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ₱181

$2.04 ₱126

43.63%

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

$1.19 ₱73.7

$0.57 ₱35.28

108.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.78

$0.30 ₱18.35

86.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱150

$0.94 ₱58.2

157.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ₱223

$1.73 ₱107

109.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₱136

$1.84 ₱114

19.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.20 ₱74.3

24.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.7

$0.95 ₱58.8

12.63%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.26 ₱139

3.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱505

$5.75 ₱354

42.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱273

$4.25 ₱262

4.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$7.09 ₱437

8.74%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱269

$3.77 ₱232

15.65%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.19 ₱73.3

68.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱159

$3.37 ₱208

-23.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱138

$1.55 ₱95.8

43.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱213

$2.56 ₱158

34.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱176

$3.14 ₱194

-8.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$1.68 ₱104

-32.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.7

$0.90 ₱55.8

13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ₱175

$3.15 ₱194

-9.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 ₱501

$6.76 ₱417

20.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.1

$1.34 ₱82.9

-6.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$1.45 ₱89.5

60.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₱33.40

$0.26 ₱15.99

107.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.64 ₱225

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.35

$0.72 ₱44.57

8.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.49

$0.23 ₱14.10

-52.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.65 ₱225

$2.58 ₱159

41.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.03 ₱63.5

6.80%

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

$33.4K ₱2.1M

$23.5K ₱1.4M

42.19%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

11.55%

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

$171 ₱10.5K

$55.9 ₱3,450

205.11%

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

$26.96 ₱1,663

$30.59 ₱1,887

-11.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.97 ₱2,219

$30.34 ₱1,871

18.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ₱3,430

$33.30 ₱2,054

67.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 ₱732

$4.55 ₱280

160.88%

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ₱505

$5.28 ₱326

55.11%

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

$322 ₱19.9K

$34.84 ₱2,149

824.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,811 ₱481.8K

$4,279 ₱263.9K

82.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₱3,628

$45.23 ₱2,790

30.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 ₱2,206

$23.05 ₱1,421

55.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 ₱5,174

$61.9 ₱3,818

35.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₱7,612

$26.94 ₱1,662

358.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 ₱41.2K

$167 ₱10.3K

298.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.8K

$174 ₱10.7K

131.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 ₱142.3K

$579 ₱35.7K

298.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ₱62.6K

$395 ₱24.3K

157.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,283 ₱387.5K

$2,215 ₱136.6K

183.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,903 ₱240.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$712 ₱43.9K

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Bacong: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $667 in Makati versus $167 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: $236 vs $205 – 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 79%, 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 $1,807 per month in Makati and $1,010 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 $1,204 in Makati and $673 in Bacong. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $322 per month in Makati and $34.84 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 $673, than in Makati at $1,204. 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.