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: $1,186 in Makati versus $599 in Bataan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,004 in Makati versus $990 in Bataan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Makati versus $1,381 in Bataan.

Living in Makati is roughly 98% more expensive than Bataan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 12% lower, Bataan 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 ₱415

$1.46 ₱88.5

367.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.54 ₱2,705

$17.76 ₱1,078

150.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱296

$3.03 ₱184

61.06%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱174

$1.53 ₱93.1

87.58%

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

$1.16 ₱70.4

$0.88 ₱53.3

31.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.32

$0.26 ₱15.64

103.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱148

$1.49 ₱90.3

63.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₱211

$2.70 ₱164

28.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ₱129

$1.87 ₱114

13.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱91.4

$1.41 ₱85.6

7.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.7

$1.01 ₱61.4

10.89%

Eggs

$2.25 ₱137

$1.99 ₱121

13.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 ₱488

$8.22 ₱499

-2.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱269

$4.17 ₱253

6.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 ₱474

$10.49 ₱637

-25.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₱274

$2.97 ₱180

51.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₱116

$2.19 ₱133

-12.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱165

$3.51 ₱213

-22.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱133

$1.38 ₱83.9

58.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₱198

$1.39 ₱84.1

134.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₱178

$2.64 ₱161

10.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱66.6

$1.12 ₱67.8

-1.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.1

$0.52 ₱31.37

90.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱173

$2.54 ₱154

12.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.27 ₱502

$8.67 ₱527

-4.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱71.9

$1.14 ₱69.4

3.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₱141

$2.52 ₱153

-7.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱30.91

$0.28 ₱17.19

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.49 ₱212

$4.20 ₱255

-16.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱46.80

$0.82 ₱49.78

-6.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.76

$0.24 ₱14.66

-45.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₱221

$2.19 ₱133

66.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.7

$1.16 ₱70.6

-0.86%

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

$33.6K ₱2.0M

$28.1K ₱1.7M

19.46%

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

$22.1K ₱1.3M

$28.4K ₱1.7M

-22.40%

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

$168 ₱10.2K

$53.0 ₱3,216

217.86%

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

$27.62 ₱1,677

$23.36 ₱1,419

18.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.63 ₱2,224

$26.45 ₱1,606

38.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 ₱3,428

$34.15 ₱2,074

65.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱710

$4.55 ₱276

156.92%

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 ₱471

$6.26 ₱380

23.96%

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

$320 ₱19.4K

$74.4 ₱4,515

330.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,666 ₱465.5K

$4,398 ₱267.1K

74.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 ₱3,554

$46.18 ₱2,804

26.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.71 ₱2,169

$33.61 ₱2,041

6.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 ₱5,231

$68.7 ₱4,174

25.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 ₱7,609

$116 ₱7,049

7.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.1K

$95.6 ₱5,806

590.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₱23.9K

$58.4 ₱3,543

575.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 ₱137.4K

$312 ₱18.9K

625.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 ₱61.2K

$175 ₱10.6K

476.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,121 ₱371.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,737 ₱226.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$693 ₱42.1K

$395 ₱24.0K

75.46%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Bataan: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $95.6 in Bataan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 75% 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 $18.00 in Bataan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $219 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 98% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Makati pays 75% 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: $660 in Makati versus $95.6 in Bataan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% 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 $18.00 versus $45.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $599 in Bataan versus $1,186 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 98% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.