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: $1,226 in Makati versus $602 in Bataan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,003 in Makati versus $994 in Bataan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,780 in Makati versus $1,386 in Bataan.

Living in Makati is roughly 104% more expensive than in Bataan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Bataan 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱406

$1.44 ₱88.6

359.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,746

$17.43 ₱1,070

156.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱293

$2.99 ₱184

59.53%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$1.48 ₱91.1

99.32%

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

$1.15 ₱70.9

$0.81 ₱49.60

41.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.10

$0.26 ₱15.94

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.48 ₱90.6

60.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱222

$2.60 ₱160

38.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱132

$1.79 ₱110

20.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.6

$1.44 ₱88.5

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱65.0

$0.99 ₱60.8

7.07%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$2.01 ₱123

16.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱483

$8.10 ₱497

-2.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱275

$4.04 ₱248

10.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱479

$10.79 ₱662

-27.71%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱272

$2.88 ₱177

53.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$2.08 ₱128

-5.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$3.64 ₱223

-28.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.46 ₱89.5

48.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$1.45 ₱88.9

135.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$2.53 ₱155

11.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.7

$1.08 ₱66.1

0.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.6

$0.55 ₱33.50

70.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱181

$2.44 ₱150

20.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱485

$8.89 ₱546

-11.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.6

$1.08 ₱66.6

13.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱138

$2.50 ₱154

-10.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱34.08

$0.26 ₱15.93

111.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱223

$4.20 ₱258

-13.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.56

$0.83 ₱51.1

-7.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.84

$0.22 ₱13.44

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱222

$2.14 ₱132

69.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.5

$1.17 ₱71.7

-1.71%

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

$33.4K ₱2.1M

$28.2K ₱1.7M

18.59%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$28.7K ₱1.8M

-23.91%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$53.1 ₱3,260

226.35%

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

$27.42 ₱1,683

$23.13 ₱1,420

18.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,232

$26.33 ₱1,617

38.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,377

$34.38 ₱2,111

59.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱720

$4.54 ₱279

158.15%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱494

$6.31 ₱387

27.58%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$74.4 ₱4,570

334.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱474.0K

$4,358 ₱267.6K

77.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,664

$46.59 ₱2,860

28.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,210

$34.10 ₱2,094

5.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,251

$69.0 ₱4,235

24.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,497

$116 ₱7,099

5.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.5K

$98.5 ₱6,046

570.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$57.9 ₱3,555

573.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.7K

$315 ₱19.3K

617.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.4K

$170 ₱10.4K

507.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱372.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱235.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.4K

$407 ₱25.0K

49.92%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Bataan: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $98.5 in Bataan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 50% 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 $17.00 in Bataan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 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 104% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 50% 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: $660 in Makati versus $98.5 in Bataan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% 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 $45.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $602 in Bataan versus $1,226 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 104% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.