Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Bataan Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Bataan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,237 in Makati versus $484 in Bataan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Makati versus $814 in Bataan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,145 in Bataan.

Living in Makati is roughly 156% more expensive than in Bataan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Bataan 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱403

$1.32 ₱82.8

387.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,509

$16.47 ₱1,033

142.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱287

$2.79 ₱175

64.16%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$1.34 ₱83.9

94.03%

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

$1.13 ₱70.6

$0.61 ₱38.05

85.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱30.10

$0.25 ₱15.72

92.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱151

$1.02 ₱63.7

136.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱204

$1.61 ₱101

101.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.67 ₱105

16.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.9

$1.16 ₱72.6

6.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.9

$0.98 ₱61.2

9.18%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱155

$1.73 ₱108

42.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱457

$5.22 ₱327

39.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$3.02 ₱189

60.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱433

$8.10 ₱508

-14.69%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱250

$2.33 ₱146

70.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.57 ₱98.1

27.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱202

$2.34 ₱147

37.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.02 ₱64.2

132.35%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱216

$1.76 ₱110

96.02%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱215

$1.73 ₱109

97.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.6

$0.67 ₱41.73

65.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.7

$0.49 ₱30.99

136.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.18 ₱137

17.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱506

$8.64 ₱542

-6.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.4

$0.97 ₱60.7

39.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱129

$2.01 ₱126

1.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.47 ₱29.31

108.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.53

$0.82 ₱51.1

-25.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.25 ₱15.74

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱74.0

$1.02 ₱63.9

15.69%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

2.92%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

0.03%

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

$154 ₱9,681

$48.26 ₱3,025

220.00%

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

$16.28 ₱1,021

$17.28 ₱1,083

-5.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,963

$23.20 ₱1,454

34.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,383

$26.70 ₱1,674

102.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱897

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱445

$5.17 ₱324

37.33%

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

$783 ₱49.1K

$67.3 ₱4,221

1063.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱462.3K

$10.6K ₱663.9K

-30.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,780

$29.44 ₱1,846

104.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,358

$19.91 ₱1,248

88.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,151

$70.5 ₱4,421

16.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,550

$55.7 ₱3,492

87.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.3K

$167 ₱10.5K

351.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$52.8 ₱3,310

712.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱146.5K

$280 ₱17.6K

733.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱67.2K

$183 ₱11.5K

484.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱372.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱239.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱38.0K

$392 ₱24.6K

54.70%

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: September 6, 2026

Last update for Bataan: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $755 in Makati and $167 in Bataan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 55% 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 $16.00 in Bataan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $173 per month, with Bataan 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 Bataan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bataan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 156% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 55% 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: $755 in Makati versus $167 in Bataan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $783 in Makati versus $67.3 in Bataan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bataan – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $40.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $484 in Bataan versus $1,237 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bataan but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Bataan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Bataan 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 Bataan 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 Bataan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 156% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.