😐A single person spends $1,237 per month in Makati vs $732 in Binan City, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,035 per month in Makati vs $1,119 in Binan City, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Makati vs $1,505 in Binan City, rent included.
😐Makati costs about 69% more than Binan City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Makati and Binan City are more affordable than the global median – Makati10% lower, Binan City47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.43₱403
$4.07₱255
57.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.02₱2,509
$16.51₱1,035
142.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.58₱287
$2.75₱173
66.55%
Cappuccino
$2.60₱163
$1.77₱111
46.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13₱70.6
$0.56₱34.96
101.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48₱30.10
$0.34₱21.54
41.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41₱151
$0.98₱61.2
145.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25₱204
$1.58₱99.1
105.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94₱121
$1.63₱102
19.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.23₱76.9
$1.17₱73.5
5.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.07₱66.9
$1.02₱64.1
4.90%
Eggs
$2.47₱155
$2.11₱132
17.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.28₱457
$5.27₱331
38.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.85₱304
$3.48₱218
39.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.91₱433
$6.94₱435
-0.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98₱250
$2.30₱144
73.04%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00₱126
$1.60₱100
25.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.22₱202
$2.34₱147
37.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.37₱149
$1.04₱65.1
127.88%
Potato(1kg)
$3.45₱216
$1.70₱107
102.94%
Onion(1kg)
$3.42₱215
$1.75₱110
95.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11₱69.6
$0.63₱39.40
76.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16₱72.7
$0.53₱33.07
118.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.57₱161
$2.60₱163
-1.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.08₱506
$8.22₱515
-1.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35₱84.4
$0.96₱60.0
40.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05₱129
$1.99₱125
3.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Makati
Binan City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98₱61.6
$0.27₱16.98
262.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.9₱3,629
$11.26₱706
414.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.61₱38.54
$0.63₱39.47
-3.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱14.44
$0.23₱14.42
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.86₱116
$1.87₱117
-0.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18₱74.0
$1.21₱75.8
-2.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K₱1.4M
$21.7K₱1.4M
-0.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K₱1.2M
$19.6K₱1.2M
-1.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$154₱9,683
$141₱8,867
9.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.28₱1,021
$16.06₱1,007
1.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.31₱1,963
$31.54₱1,977
-0.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.0₱3,384
$32.33₱2,027
66.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.31₱897
$4.85₱304
195.05%
Cinema Ticket
$7.10₱445
$5.23₱328
35.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$783₱49.1K
$134₱8,426
482.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,374₱462.3K
$7,391₱463.4K
-0.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.3₱3,780
$28.85₱1,809
108.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.61₱2,358
$19.72₱1,236
90.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.2₱5,152
$72.2₱4,528
13.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104₱6,551
$56.8₱3,562
83.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makati
Binan City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$755₱47.3K
$264₱16.5K
186.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$429₱26.9K
$171₱10.7K
151.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,337₱146.5K
$491₱30.8K
376.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,072₱67.2K
$353₱22.1K
203.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,941₱372.5K
$2,560₱160.5K
132.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,816₱239.3K
$1,050₱65.8K
263.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$606₱38.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.5
6.75
11.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Makati: September 6, 2026
Last update for Binan City: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $755 in Makati versus $264 in Binan City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Makati versus $17.00 in Binan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $173 – making Binan City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Binan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Binan City cheaper than Makati?
Yes – Makati is pricier by about 69%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,855 per month in Makati and $1,098 in Binan City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Binan City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $783 per month in Makati and $134 in Binan City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Makati and in Binan City?
Groceries cost about 34% more in Makati, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Makati or in Binan City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Binan City, where all-in costs run around $732, than in Makati at $1,237. In Binan City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Makati or Binan City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Binan City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Makati or Binan City?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Binan City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Makati makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.