Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,228 in Makati versus $748 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Makati versus $1,182 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Makati versus $1,616 in Baguio.

Living in Makati is roughly 64% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Baguio 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 ₱411

$4.03 ₱252

63.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.99 ₱2,501

$16.79 ₱1,050

138.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 ₱287

$2.77 ₱173

65.70%

Cappuccino

$2.76 ₱173

$1.79 ₱112

54.19%

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

$1.07 ₱67.2

$0.55 ₱34.69

94.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.17

$0.35 ₱21.57

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱151

$1.02 ₱63.9

137.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱203

$1.64 ₱103

98.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ₱115

$1.62 ₱101

12.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 ₱80.6

$1.12 ₱69.9

15.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱64.3

$0.98 ₱61.3

5.10%

Eggs

$2.38 ₱149

$2.11 ₱132

12.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 ₱457

$5.00 ₱313

46.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 ₱303

$3.36 ₱210

44.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.19 ₱449

$8.12 ₱508

-11.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱249

$2.29 ₱143

73.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.62 ₱101

25.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 ₱204

$2.33 ₱146

39.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$1.08 ₱67.3

113.89%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 ₱217

$1.68 ₱105

106.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.47 ₱217

$1.71 ₱107

102.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₱70.0

$0.62 ₱39.00

80.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₱69.4

$0.49 ₱30.59

126.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 ₱169

$2.99 ₱187

-9.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.86 ₱491

$8.98 ₱561

-12.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₱87.4

$0.95 ₱59.6

47.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱130

$2.11 ₱132

-1.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₱56.1

$0.25 ₱15.64

260.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.3 ₱3,581

$12.67 ₱792

352.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.09

$0.76 ₱47.83

-19.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.10

$0.25 ₱15.71

-16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱117

$1.96 ₱122

-4.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₱78.3

$1.20 ₱75.0

4.17%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

-0.68%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.6K ₱1.2M

0.56%

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

$154 ₱9,611

$144 ₱8,974

7.10%

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

$15.78 ₱987

$17.30 ₱1,082

-8.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.11 ₱2,008

$23.28 ₱1,456

37.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 ₱3,413

$21.30 ₱1,332

156.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.41 ₱901

$5.36 ₱335

168.84%

Cinema Ticket

$7.39 ₱462

$5.19 ₱325

42.39%

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

$790 ₱49.4K

$131 ₱8,191

502.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,405 ₱463.0K

$10.6K ₱663.5K

-30.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ₱3,741

$29.51 ₱1,845

102.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.65 ₱2,354

$19.29 ₱1,206

95.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,137

$73.0 ₱4,568

12.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 ₱6,468

$55.4 ₱3,466

86.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$748 ₱46.8K

$411 ₱25.7K

82.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$430 ₱26.9K

$198 ₱12.4K

117.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,276 ₱142.3K

$851 ₱53.2K

167.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 ₱67.5K

$466 ₱29.1K

131.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,003 ₱375.4K

$2,650 ₱165.7K

126.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,832 ₱239.6K

$919 ₱57.5K

316.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.1K

$180 ₱11.2K

239.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

6.75

11.11%

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

Last update for Makati: August 31, 2026

Last update for Baguio: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $748 in Makati and $411 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 240% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $17.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $175 per month, with Baguio 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 Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 64% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 240% higher in Makati, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $748 in Makati versus $411 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,228 per month in Makati versus $748 in Baguio – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 352% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $748 in Baguio versus $1,228 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Baguio but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Baguio the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Baguio delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $748 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baguio hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Baguio 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 Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.