Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Batangas Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Batangas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,226 in Makati versus $665 in Batangas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,003 in Makati versus $973 in Batangas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,780 in Makati versus $1,282 in Batangas.

Living in Makati is roughly 84% more expensive than in Batangas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Batangas 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$2.34 ₱143

182.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$21.67 ₱1,326

106.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$2.61 ₱159

82.76%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$1.70 ₱104

73.53%

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

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.82 ₱49.89

40.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.37 ₱22.75

40.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$0.98 ₱60.0

141.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$1.39 ₱85.4

159.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$2.11 ₱129

1.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.24 ₱76.2

16.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$0.87 ₱53.5

21.84%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$1.89 ₱116

24.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$4.98 ₱305

58.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$4.23 ₱259

5.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$7.08 ₱434

10.17%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$2.65 ₱162

67.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.54 ₱94.1

27.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$2.73 ₱167

-5.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.70 ₱104

27.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$2.50 ₱153

36.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$4.05 ₱248

-30.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$1.45 ₱88.9

-24.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$1.05 ₱64.3

-10.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$2.89 ₱177

2.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$7.91 ₱484

-0.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$0.86 ₱52.8

43.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$2.05 ₱125

9.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.26 ₱15.89

111.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.83 ₱50.9

-7.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.25 ₱15.12

-56.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$2.19 ₱134

65.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.10 ₱67.6

4.55%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$26.0K ₱1.6M

28.68%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$20.4K ₱1.2M

7.35%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$162 ₱9,918

6.96%

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

$27.42 ₱1,678

$19.09 ₱1,168

43.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$29.60 ₱1,812

22.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$27.76 ₱1,699

98.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

$4.30 ₱263

172.56%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$5.30 ₱324

51.89%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$79.9 ₱4,892

304.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$1,412 ₱86.4K

446.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$17.48 ₱1,070

241.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$27.00 ₱1,653

33.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$61.0 ₱3,732

40.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$43.85 ₱2,684

178.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$270 ₱16.5K

144.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$78.6 ₱4,811

395.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$178 ₱10.9K

1170.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$106 ₱6,494

872.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

$2,508 ₱153.5K

141.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

$1,652 ₱101.1K

132.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

$169 ₱10.3K

260.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

8.13

-17.96%

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

Last update for Makati: July 28, 2026

Last update for Batangas: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $270 in Batangas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 261% 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 $22.00 in Batangas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $202 per month, with Batangas 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 Batangas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Makati and Batangas differ by about 84% in total monthly costs ($1,226 vs $665 including rent). Batangas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 261% 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 $270 in Batangas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,226 per month in Makati versus $665 in Batangas – a 84% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $665 in Batangas versus $1,226 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Batangas but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Batangas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Makati and Batangas 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 Batangas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.