😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Makati versus $805 in Bayawan City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,017 in Makati versus $1,271 in Bayawan City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,812 in Makati versus $1,737 in Bayawan City.
😐Living in Makati is roughly 52% more expensive than Bayawan City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Makati8% lower, Bayawan City40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makati
Bayawan City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.85₱412
$4.56₱275
50.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.09₱2,655
$24.23₱1,459
81.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.97₱300
$4.51₱272
10.20%
Cappuccino
$2.96₱178
$2.57₱154
15.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15₱69.1
$0.84₱50.4
36.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57₱34.46
$0.43₱25.89
32.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.32₱140
$1.52₱91.4
52.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54₱213
$2.07₱125
71.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makati
Bayawan City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₱130
$2.00₱120
8.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.49₱89.9
$1.50₱90.2
-0.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.06₱64.1
$0.82₱49.18
29.27%
Eggs
$2.22₱134
$2.29₱138
-3.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26₱497
$12.68₱764
-34.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.42₱266
$5.39₱324
-18.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.54₱454
$7.91₱477
-4.68%
Apples(1kg)
$4.56₱275
$3.64₱219
25.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90₱115
$1.46₱88.2
30.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.71₱163
$3.40₱205
-20.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17₱131
$2.28₱137
-4.82%
Potato(1kg)
$3.31₱199
$2.65₱160
24.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.81₱169
$2.55₱154
10.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09₱65.5
$0.92₱55.6
18.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02₱61.3
$0.84₱50.4
21.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99₱180
$3.26₱197
-8.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.52₱513
$5.00₱301
70.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25₱75.2
$0.87₱52.1
43.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29₱138
$2.33₱141
-1.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Makati
Bayawan City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55₱32.85
$0.26₱15.62
111.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.57₱215
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.78₱46.81
$0.89₱53.6
-12.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.12₱7.06
$0.25₱15.07
-52.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.48₱209
$2.69₱162
29.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₱69.5
$1.15₱69.4
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K₱2.0M
$30.7K₱1.8M
9.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K₱1.3M
$27.6K₱1.7M
-21.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makati
Bayawan City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169₱10.2K
$97.6₱5,880
73.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.89₱1,619
$34.24₱2,062
-21.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.15₱2,177
$29.59₱1,782
22.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makati
Bayawan City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.4₱3,339
$33.54₱2,020
65.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.69₱704
$4.38₱264
166.89%
Cinema Ticket
$7.93₱477
$1.73₱104
358.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makati
Bayawan City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$324₱19.5K
$231₱13.9K
39.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,613₱458.5K
$3,953₱238.1K
92.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makati
Bayawan City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2₱3,565
$45.97₱2,769
28.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.26₱2,124
$22.88₱1,378
54.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1₱5,188
$75.7₱4,559
13.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₱7,375
$56.0₱3,375
118.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makati
Bayawan City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$661₱39.8K
$265₱16.0K
149.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$397₱23.9K
$173₱10.4K
128.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,254₱135.8K
$586₱35.3K
284.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,023₱61.6K
$391₱23.5K
161.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,076₱366.0K
$2,374₱143.0K
155.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,885₱234.0K
$1,079₱65.0K
260.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makati
Bayawan City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$706₱42.5K
$115₱6,899
516.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
8
-16.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Makati: June 14, 2026
Last update for Bayawan City: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $661 in Makati and $265 in Bayawan City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Makati pays 516% 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: $44.00 in Makati vs $24.00 in Bayawan City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $234 per month, with Bayawan City 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 Bayawan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Makati and Bayawan City?
Makati and Bayawan City differ by about 52% in total monthly costs ($1,223 vs $805 including rent). Bayawan City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Makati or Bayawan City?
Makati pays 516% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Makati and Bayawan City?
Rent for a central apartment: $661 in Makati versus $265 in Bayawan City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Makati and Bayawan City?
Childcare runs $324 in Makati versus $231 in Bayawan City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Bayawan City – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $44.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $805 in Bayawan City versus $1,223 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bayawan City but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Bayawan City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Makati and Bayawan City?
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.
Is Makati or Bayawan City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Makati and Bayawan City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Makati or Bayawan City?
Expats usually find Bayawan City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.