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: $1,188 in Makati versus $764 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,128 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,491 in Baguio.

Living in Makati is roughly 56% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Baguio 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱402

$3.51 ₱216

86.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,770

$13.35 ₱822

237.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$2.67 ₱165

79.40%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.35 ₱145

25.53%

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

$1.20 ₱73.8

$0.69 ₱42.28

73.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.43

$0.37 ₱23.01

56.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.44 ₱88.4

62.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱219

$1.93 ₱119

84.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.92 ₱118

11.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$1.19 ₱73.3

20.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$1.06 ₱65.3

4.72%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.17 ₱134

7.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱492

$9.41 ₱579

-15.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$3.72 ₱229

21.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$8.61 ₱530

-10.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱279

$2.72 ₱168

66.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.79 ₱110

10.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.35 ₱145

15.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.17 ₱72.1

94.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$1.81 ₱112

90.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$2.20 ₱135

27.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$0.68 ₱41.60

67.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.7

$0.78 ₱47.77

26.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱184

$3.33 ₱205

-10.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱493

$8.71 ₱536

-8.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$1.06 ₱65.4

17.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$2.34 ₱144

-4.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.57

$0.28 ₱17.26

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

$10.81 ₱665

-66.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.05

$0.92 ₱56.7

-17.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.20

$0.22 ₱13.54

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.35 ₱145

46.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$1.11 ₱68.1

3.60%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$31.7K ₱1.9M

7.60%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

7.43%

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

$170 ₱10.4K

$144 ₱8,877

17.67%

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

$27.66 ₱1,703

$34.02 ₱2,094

-18.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,203

$25.86 ₱1,592

38.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,371

$22.30 ₱1,373

145.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

$4.23 ₱261

184.40%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱505

$5.79 ₱356

41.62%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$151 ₱9,286

114.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱472.8K

$4,640 ₱285.6K

65.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,628

$48.90 ₱3,010

20.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,209

$27.56 ₱1,697

30.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,174

$74.1 ₱4,560

13.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,609

$45.63 ₱2,809

170.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.4K

$349 ₱21.5K

88.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$145 ₱8,936

168.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱139.9K

$543 ₱33.4K

318.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.0K

$265 ₱16.3K

280.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

$2,392 ₱147.2K

151.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

$925 ₱57.0K

303.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$183 ₱11.3K

230.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

4.5

48.22%

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

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $349 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 231% 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: $45.00 in Makati vs $13.00 in Baguio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $206 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 56% 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 231% 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: $657 in Makati versus $349 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,188 per month in Makati versus $764 in Baguio – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 202% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $764 in Baguio versus $1,188 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 $764 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 56% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.