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: $1,204 in Makati versus $764 in Bago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,023 in Makati versus $1,200 in Bago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,841 in Makati versus $1,636 in Bago.

Living in Makati is roughly 58% more expensive than Bago, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Bago 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 ₱412

$3.50 ₱216

91.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.22 ₱2,728

$17.75 ₱1,095

149.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱301

$3.39 ₱209

43.95%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ₱181

$2.44 ₱150

20.08%

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

$1.19 ₱73.7

$0.82 ₱50.6

45.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.78

$0.40 ₱24.56

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱150

$1.30 ₱80.4

86.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ₱223

$2.19 ₱135

65.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₱136

$1.91 ₱118

15.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.21 ₱74.9

23.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.7

$0.95 ₱58.9

12.63%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.00 ₱123

17.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱505

$7.79 ₱481

5.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱273

$4.18 ₱258

5.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$7.55 ₱465

2.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱269

$2.84 ₱175

53.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.54 ₱95.3

29.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱159

$2.72 ₱168

-5.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱138

$1.54 ₱95.0

44.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱213

$2.32 ₱143

48.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱176

$2.62 ₱162

9.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$1.12 ₱68.9

1.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.7

$0.72 ₱44.57

41.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ₱175

$2.88 ₱178

-1.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 ₱501

$8.84 ₱545

-8.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.1

$1.17 ₱72.1

6.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$2.07 ₱127

12.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₱33.40

$0.26 ₱15.93

107.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.64 ₱225

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.35

$0.77 ₱47.61

1.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.49

$0.24 ₱14.86

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.65 ₱225

$2.14 ₱132

70.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.11 ₱68.4

-0.90%

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

$33.4K ₱2.1M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

27.30%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.4K ₱1.3M

5.24%

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

$171 ₱10.5K

$111 ₱6,873

53.16%

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

$26.96 ₱1,663

$33.24 ₱2,050

-18.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.97 ₱2,219

$27.26 ₱1,682

31.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ₱3,430

$33.99 ₱2,096

63.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 ₱732

$4.33 ₱267

174.13%

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ₱505

$6.09 ₱375

34.48%

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

$322 ₱19.9K

$154 ₱9,518

108.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,811 ₱481.8K

$4,293 ₱264.8K

81.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₱3,628

$46.12 ₱2,845

27.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 ₱2,206

$26.37 ₱1,627

35.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 ₱5,174

$74.2 ₱4,576

13.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₱7,612

$53.5 ₱3,303

130.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 ₱41.2K

$265 ₱16.3K

152.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.8K

$180 ₱11.1K

124.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 ₱142.3K

$581 ₱35.8K

297.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ₱62.6K

$401 ₱24.7K

153.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,283 ₱387.5K

$2,434 ₱150.1K

158.17%

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

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

Last update for Makati: April 25, 2026

Last update for Bago: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $667 in Makati and $265 in Bago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44.00 in Makati vs $18.00 in Bago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $205 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 58% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,807 in Makati and $1,145 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: $667 in Makati versus $265 in Bago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $322 in Makati versus $154 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 $44.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $764 in Bago versus $1,204 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 58% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.