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: $1,186 in Makati versus $671 in Batangas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,004 in Makati versus $973 in Batangas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Makati versus $1,274 in Batangas.

Living in Makati is roughly 77% more expensive than Batangas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 12% lower, Batangas 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 ₱415

$2.34 ₱142

191.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.54 ₱2,705

$21.41 ₱1,300

108.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱296

$2.68 ₱163

82.09%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱174

$1.72 ₱105

66.86%

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

$1.16 ₱70.4

$0.81 ₱49.39

43.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.32

$0.38 ₱22.93

39.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱148

$1.02 ₱62.0

139.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₱211

$1.35 ₱81.9

157.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ₱129

$2.16 ₱131

-1.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱91.4

$1.20 ₱72.8

25.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.7

$0.82 ₱49.94

36.59%

Eggs

$2.25 ₱137

$1.89 ₱115

19.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 ₱488

$4.72 ₱287

70.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱269

$4.30 ₱261

2.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 ₱474

$7.35 ₱446

6.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₱274

$2.73 ₱165

65.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₱116

$1.59 ₱96.4

20.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱165

$2.69 ₱163

1.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱133

$1.65 ₱99.9

32.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₱198

$2.56 ₱155

27.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₱178

$4.12 ₱250

-28.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱66.6

$1.40 ₱85.2

-21.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.1

$1.04 ₱63.2

-4.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱173

$2.79 ₱169

2.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.27 ₱502

$7.37 ₱448

12.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱71.9

$0.93 ₱56.3

26.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₱141

$1.96 ₱119

18.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱30.91

$0.28 ₱17.05

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.49 ₱212

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱46.80

$0.79 ₱47.90

-2.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.76

$0.27 ₱16.46

-51.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₱221

$2.17 ₱132

67.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.7

$1.11 ₱67.3

3.60%

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

$33.6K ₱2.0M

$25.2K ₱1.5M

33.31%

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

$22.1K ₱1.3M

$20.3K ₱1.2M

8.41%

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

$168 ₱10.2K

$161 ₱9,803

4.29%

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

$27.62 ₱1,677

$19.08 ₱1,159

44.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.63 ₱2,224

$29.35 ₱1,782

24.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 ₱3,428

$27.72 ₱1,683

103.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱710

$4.45 ₱270

162.70%

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 ₱471

$5.40 ₱328

43.70%

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

$320 ₱19.4K

$81.4 ₱4,943

292.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,666 ₱465.5K

$1,405 ₱85.3K

445.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 ₱3,554

$17.83 ₱1,082

228.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.71 ₱2,169

$26.73 ₱1,623

33.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 ₱5,231

$61.1 ₱3,711

40.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 ₱7,609

$44.47 ₱2,700

181.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.1K

$261 ₱15.8K

153.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₱23.9K

$80.9 ₱4,912

387.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 ₱137.4K

$177 ₱10.8K

1175.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 ₱61.2K

$105 ₱6,349

864.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,121 ₱371.7K

$2,634 ₱159.9K

132.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,737 ₱226.9K

$1,652 ₱100.3K

126.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$693 ₱42.1K

$168 ₱10.2K

311.51%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Batangas: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $261 in Batangas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 312% 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 $21.00 in Batangas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 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 77% in total monthly costs ($1,186 vs $671 including rent). Batangas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Makati pays 312% 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 $261 in Batangas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,186 per month in Makati versus $671 in Batangas – a 77% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $671 in Batangas versus $1,186 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 77% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.