Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Bago Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Bago

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,226 in Makati versus $771 in Bago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,003 in Makati versus $1,219 in Bago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,780 in Makati versus $1,668 in Bago.

Living in Makati is roughly 59% more expensive than in Bago, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Bago 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱406

$3.47 ₱213

90.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,746

$17.77 ₱1,091

151.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱293

$3.33 ₱204

43.24%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.42 ₱149

21.90%

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

$1.15 ₱70.9

$0.84 ₱51.5

36.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.10

$0.39 ₱24.20

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.31 ₱80.5

80.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱222

$2.12 ₱130

70.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱132

$1.85 ₱113

16.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.6

$1.28 ₱78.3

12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.0

$1.00 ₱61.2

6.00%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$2.09 ₱129

12.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱483

$8.25 ₱507

-4.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱275

$4.29 ₱263

4.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱479

$7.62 ₱468

2.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱272

$2.87 ₱176

54.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.54 ₱94.8

27.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$2.68 ₱165

-3.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.60 ₱98.2

35.62%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$2.29 ₱141

48.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$2.61 ₱160

7.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.7

$1.12 ₱68.5

-2.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.6

$0.77 ₱47.14

22.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱181

$2.79 ₱171

5.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱485

$8.03 ₱493

-1.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.6

$1.19 ₱73.2

3.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱138

$1.99 ₱122

13.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱34.08

$0.26 ₱15.75

111.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱223

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.56

$0.83 ₱51.2

-7.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.84

$0.24 ₱14.75

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱222

$2.19 ₱135

65.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.5

$1.13 ₱69.7

1.77%

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

$33.4K ₱2.1M

$26.4K ₱1.6M

26.62%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

6.03%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$111 ₱6,785

56.81%

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

$27.42 ₱1,683

$32.66 ₱2,006

-16.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,232

$27.27 ₱1,674

33.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,377

$33.81 ₱2,076

62.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱720

$4.36 ₱268

168.81%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱494

$5.78 ₱355

39.27%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$152 ₱9,350

112.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱474.0K

$4,234 ₱260.0K

82.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,664

$46.45 ₱2,852

28.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,210

$26.93 ₱1,653

33.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,251

$75.4 ₱4,627

13.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,497

$54.0 ₱3,313

126.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.5K

$269 ₱16.5K

145.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$179 ₱11.0K

117.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.7K

$588 ₱36.1K

284.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.4K

$390 ₱24.0K

164.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱372.0K

$2,081 ₱127.8K

191.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱235.5K

$931 ₱57.1K

312.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.4K

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Bago: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $269 in Bago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Makati vs $18.00 in Bago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $207 per month, with Bago cheaper across the board.

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 Bago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bago is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,840 in Makati and $1,157 in Bago to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $660 in Makati versus $269 in Bago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $323 in Makati versus $152 in Bago. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bago – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $45.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $771 in Bago versus $1,226 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bago but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Bago the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Bago is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Makati, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Makati and Bago are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.