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: $1,204 in Makati versus $602 in Bataan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,023 in Makati versus $998 in Bataan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,841 in Makati versus $1,393 in Bataan.

Living in Makati is roughly 100% more expensive than Bataan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Bataan 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 ₱412

$1.45 ₱89.7

361.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.22 ₱2,728

$17.40 ₱1,073

154.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱301

$3.11 ₱192

56.91%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ₱181

$1.55 ₱95.6

89.03%

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

$1.19 ₱73.7

$0.83 ₱51.2

43.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.78

$0.26 ₱15.85

115.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱150

$1.48 ₱91.2

63.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ₱223

$2.61 ₱161

38.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₱136

$1.85 ₱114

18.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.41 ₱86.7

5.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.7

$0.93 ₱57.6

15.05%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.00 ₱123

17.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱505

$8.08 ₱498

1.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱273

$4.14 ₱256

6.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$10.46 ₱645

-26.29%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱269

$2.88 ₱178

51.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱123

$2.17 ₱134

-7.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱159

$3.62 ₱223

-29.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱138

$1.40 ₱86.6

59.29%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱213

$1.38 ₱85.1

150.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱176

$2.62 ₱162

9.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$1.07 ₱66.1

6.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.7

$0.54 ₱33.33

88.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ₱175

$2.44 ₱151

16.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 ₱501

$9.07 ₱559

-10.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.1

$1.09 ₱67.0

14.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$2.50 ₱154

-7.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₱33.40

$0.26 ₱15.94

107.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.64 ₱225

$4.12 ₱254

-11.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.35

$0.78 ₱48.15

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.49

$0.24 ₱14.82

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.65 ₱225

$2.07 ₱128

76.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.15 ₱71.2

-4.35%

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

$33.4K ₱2.1M

$28.1K ₱1.7M

18.76%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$28.9K ₱1.8M

-25.71%

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

$171 ₱10.5K

$53.6 ₱3,303

218.61%

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

$26.96 ₱1,663

$23.22 ₱1,432

16.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.97 ₱2,219

$25.98 ₱1,602

38.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ₱3,430

$34.19 ₱2,109

62.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 ₱732

$4.39 ₱271

170.39%

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ₱505

$6.29 ₱388

30.21%

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

$322 ₱19.9K

$75.0 ₱4,626

329.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,811 ₱481.8K

$4,365 ₱269.2K

78.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₱3,628

$45.82 ₱2,826

28.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 ₱2,206

$33.61 ₱2,073

6.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 ₱5,174

$68.6 ₱4,232

22.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₱7,612

$113 ₱6,993

8.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 ₱41.2K

$95.7 ₱5,904

597.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.8K

$57.7 ₱3,560

597.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 ₱142.3K

$305 ₱18.8K

655.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ₱62.6K

$172 ₱10.6K

490.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,283 ₱387.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,903 ₱240.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$712 ₱43.9K

$414 ₱25.5K

72.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

6.17

8.10%

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

Last update for Makati: April 25, 2026

Last update for Bataan: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $667 in Makati and $95.7 in Bataan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 72% 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: $44.00 in Makati vs $17.00 in Bataan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $218 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 100% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Makati pays 72% more on average, 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: $667 in Makati versus $95.7 in Bataan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Bataan – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $44.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $602 in Bataan versus $1,204 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 100% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.