Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Binan City Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Binan City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Makati vs $901 in Binan City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,023 per month in Makati vs $1,376 in Binan City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,841 per month in Makati vs $1,850 in Binan City, rent included.

Makati costs about 34% more than Binan City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Makati and Binan City are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Binan City 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.69 ₱412
$4.76 ₱294
40.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.22 ₱2,728
$21.05 ₱1,298
110.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.88 ₱301
$3.12 ₱193
56.41%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ₱181
$2.98 ₱184
-1.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 ₱73.7
$0.93 ₱57.7
27.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₱34.78
$0.38 ₱23.16
47.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ₱150
$1.23 ₱75.7
96.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 ₱223
$2.65 ₱163
36.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 ₱136
$2.15 ₱133
2.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 ₱92.0
$1.26 ₱77.4
18.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.07 ₱65.7
$1.07 ₱66.3
-
Eggs
$2.34 ₱144
$2.00 ₱124
17.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.19 ₱505
$6.87 ₱424
19.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.42 ₱273
$4.38 ₱270
0.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.71 ₱475
$7.44 ₱459
3.63%
Apples (1kg)
$4.36 ₱269
$4.32 ₱266
0.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 ₱123
$1.52 ₱94.0
31.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.57 ₱159
$2.61 ₱161
-1.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₱138
$1.70 ₱105
31.18%
Potato (1kg)
$3.45 ₱213
$2.76 ₱171
25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 ₱176
$2.93 ₱181
-2.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 ₱70.0
$1.64 ₱101
-30.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 ₱62.7
$1.01 ₱62.2
0.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.84 ₱175
$3.24 ₱200
-12.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.12 ₱501
$8.43 ₱520
-3.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 ₱77.1
$1.25 ₱77.3
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 ₱143
$2.04 ₱126
13.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Makati
Binan City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 ₱33.40
$0.26 ₱15.88
107.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.64 ₱225
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.78 ₱48.35
$0.79 ₱48.46
-1.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.11 ₱6.49
$0.24 ₱14.86
-54.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 ₱225
$3.63 ₱224
0.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ₱67.9
$1.11 ₱68.2
-0.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K ₱2.1M
$25.5K ₱1.6M
30.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5K ₱1.3M
$20.6K ₱1.3M
4.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 ₱10.5K
$167 ₱10.3K
2.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.96 ₱1,663
$32.51 ₱2,005
-17.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.97 ₱2,219
$34.87 ₱2,151
3.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.6 ₱3,430
$33.87 ₱2,089
64.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.87 ₱732
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.19 ₱505
$7.06 ₱435
16.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$322 ₱19.9K
$81.3 ₱5,013
296.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,811 ₱481.8K
$7,161 ₱441.7K
9.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ₱3,628
$32.50 ₱2,004
80.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.76 ₱2,206
$29.77 ₱1,836
20.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.9 ₱5,174
$84.7 ₱5,225
-0.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 ₱7,612
$94.8 ₱5,845
30.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makati
Binan City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$667 ₱41.2K
$266 ₱16.4K
151.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$403 ₱24.8K
$179 ₱11.0K
125.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,307 ₱142.3K
$591 ₱36.5K
290.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,015 ₱62.6K
$401 ₱24.7K
153.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,283 ₱387.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,903 ₱240.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$712 ₱43.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
6.67
-

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

Last update for Makati: April 25, 2026

Last update for Binan City: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $667 in Makati versus $266 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 $44.00 in Makati versus $21.00 in Binan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $221 – 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 34%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,807 per month in Makati and $1,352 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Makati vs Binan City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,204 in Makati and $901 in Binan City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $322 per month in Makati and $81.3 in Binan City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Makati or Binan City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Binan City, where all-in costs run around $901, than in Makati at $1,204. 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.

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