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: $1,186 in Makati versus $771 in Bago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,004 in Makati versus $1,219 in Bago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Makati versus $1,667 in Bago.

Living in Makati is roughly 54% more expensive than Bago, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 12% lower, Bago 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 ₱415

$3.59 ₱218

90.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.54 ₱2,705

$17.78 ₱1,079

150.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱296

$3.24 ₱197

50.62%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱174

$2.37 ₱144

21.10%

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

$1.16 ₱70.4

$0.78 ₱47.10

48.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.32

$0.39 ₱23.81

35.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱148

$1.30 ₱79.2

87.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₱211

$2.17 ₱132

60.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ₱129

$1.86 ₱113

13.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱91.4

$1.23 ₱74.5

22.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.7

$0.98 ₱59.7

14.29%

Eggs

$2.25 ₱137

$2.08 ₱126

8.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 ₱488

$8.22 ₱499

-2.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱269

$4.34 ₱264

1.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 ₱474

$7.87 ₱478

-0.76%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₱274

$2.94 ₱178

53.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₱116

$1.57 ₱95.4

21.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱165

$2.64 ₱160

3.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱133

$1.59 ₱96.7

37.74%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₱198

$2.32 ₱141

40.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₱178

$2.51 ₱152

16.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱66.6

$1.11 ₱67.5

-0.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.1

$0.73 ₱44.16

35.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱173

$2.89 ₱175

-1.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.27 ₱502

$9.13 ₱554

-9.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱71.9

$1.16 ₱70.6

1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₱141

$2.04 ₱124

14.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱30.91

$0.28 ₱17.04

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.49 ₱212

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱46.80

$0.77 ₱46.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.76

$0.24 ₱14.65

-45.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₱221

$2.19 ₱133

66.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.7

$1.14 ₱69.3

0.88%

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

$33.6K ₱2.0M

$26.1K ₱1.6M

28.49%

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

$22.1K ₱1.3M

$20.3K ₱1.2M

8.62%

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

$168 ₱10.2K

$112 ₱6,825

49.80%

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

$27.62 ₱1,677

$32.29 ₱1,960

-14.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.63 ₱2,224

$27.92 ₱1,695

31.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 ₱3,428

$34.25 ₱2,080

64.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱710

$4.52 ₱274

158.63%

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 ₱471

$5.91 ₱359

31.30%

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

$320 ₱19.4K

$151 ₱9,145

112.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,666 ₱465.5K

$4,380 ₱266.0K

75.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 ₱3,554

$45.15 ₱2,741

29.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.71 ₱2,169

$26.95 ₱1,636

32.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 ₱5,231

$73.9 ₱4,485

16.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 ₱7,609

$52.9 ₱3,212

136.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.1K

$271 ₱16.4K

143.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₱23.9K

$176 ₱10.7K

124.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 ₱137.4K

$598 ₱36.3K

278.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 ₱61.2K

$391 ₱23.7K

158.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,121 ₱371.7K

$2,383 ₱144.7K

156.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,737 ₱226.9K

$925 ₱56.2K

303.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$693 ₱42.1K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Bago: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $271 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 $234 vs $209 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 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,779 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 $271 in Bago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $320 in Makati versus $151 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 $1,186 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 54% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.