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 $627 in Batangas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $917 in Batangas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $1,206 in Batangas.

Living in Makati is roughly 96% more expensive than in Batangas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Batangas 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱406

$2.21 ₱138

192.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,527

$18.95 ₱1,189

112.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.66 ₱167

76.69%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.03 ₱127

30.54%

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

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.41 ₱25.81

170.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.42

$0.29 ₱18.26

55.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$1.06 ₱66.7

121.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$1.48 ₱92.7

116.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.74 ₱109

9.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.6

$1.13 ₱71.1

13.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$0.79 ₱49.34

32.91%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$1.64 ₱103

51.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱438

$5.71 ₱358

22.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.29 ₱269

13.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$7.26 ₱456

-6.75%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$2.44 ₱153

68.85%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.39 ₱86.9

43.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$2.31 ₱145

38.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.16 ₱72.9

96.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$2.28 ₱143

54.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$3.41 ₱214

5.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.3

$1.30 ₱81.4

-15.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.7

$0.96 ₱60.5

18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.49 ₱156

3.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$7.76 ₱487

2.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$1.28 ₱80.6

3.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.85 ₱116

9.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.5

$0.70 ₱43.63

40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,613

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.14

$0.76 ₱47.59

-11.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.15

$0.21 ₱13.14

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$2.47 ₱155

-24.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.0

$1.07 ₱67.1

15.89%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$20.9K ₱1.3M

1.04%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

2.97%

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

$152 ₱9,541

$164 ₱10.3K

-7.29%

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

$16.13 ₱1,012

$14.22 ₱892

13.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,984

$25.02 ₱1,569

26.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,416

$19.28 ₱1,209

182.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

$12.90 ₱809

12.02%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$5.68 ₱356

22.36%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$73.8 ₱4,628

988.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.5K

$1,284 ₱80.6K

480.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,755

$16.20 ₱1,016

269.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,352

$22.37 ₱1,403

67.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,130

$55.3 ₱3,469

47.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,544

$39.75 ₱2,493

162.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$70.3 ₱4,410

510.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.9K

$158 ₱9,931

1339.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.1K

$95.2 ₱5,971

1006.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.9K

$2,592 ₱162.5K

126.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.9K

$1,605 ₱100.6K

133.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

$165 ₱10.3K

270.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

7.14%

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

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Last update for Batangas: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Makati pays 270% 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 $19.00 in Batangas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $190 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 96% in total monthly costs ($1,226 vs $627 including rent). Batangas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 270% higher in Makati, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% 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 $627 in Batangas – a 96% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $627 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 96% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.