😐A single person spends $1,226 per month in Makati vs $899 in Binan City, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,003 per month in Makati vs $1,376 in Binan City, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,780 per month in Makati vs $1,853 in Binan City, rent included.
😐Makati costs about 36% more than Binan City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Makati and Binan City are more affordable than the global median – Makati8% lower, Binan City32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.61₱406
$4.68₱287
41.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.73₱2,746
$21.12₱1,297
111.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.77₱293
$3.03₱186
57.43%
Cappuccino
$2.95₱181
$2.87₱176
2.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15₱70.9
$0.94₱57.9
22.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52₱32.10
$0.37₱22.85
40.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.37₱145
$1.22₱75.2
94.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61₱222
$2.70₱166
33.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15₱132
$2.07₱127
3.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44₱88.6
$1.26₱77.5
14.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.06₱65.0
$1.11₱68.4
-4.50%
Eggs
$2.35₱144
$2.04₱125
15.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.87₱483
$7.03₱432
11.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.48₱275
$4.38₱269
2.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.80₱479
$7.54₱463
3.45%
Apples(1kg)
$4.43₱272
$4.42₱271
0.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.97₱121
$1.55₱95.2
27.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.59₱159
$2.63₱161
-1.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17₱133
$1.71₱105
26.90%
Potato(1kg)
$3.41₱209
$2.88₱177
18.40%
Onion(1kg)
$2.81₱172
$2.94₱180
-4.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09₱66.7
$1.58₱97.2
-31.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94₱57.6
$0.95₱58.6
-1.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95₱181
$3.25₱200
-9.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90₱485
$8.11₱498
-2.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23₱75.6
$1.23₱75.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₱138
$2.05₱126
9.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Makati
Binan City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55₱34.08
$0.26₱15.95
111.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.63₱223
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77₱47.56
$0.77₱47.50
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.11₱6.84
$0.22₱13.49
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.62₱222
$3.50₱215
3.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₱70.5
$1.14₱69.9
0.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K₱2.1M
$25.3K₱1.6M
32.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K₱1.3M
$20.8K₱1.3M
5.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173₱10.6K
$164₱10.0K
5.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.42₱1,683
$33.13₱2,034
-17.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.34₱2,232
$35.34₱2,170
2.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.0₱3,377
$34.13₱2,096
61.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.72₱720
$4.32₱265
171.30%
Cinema Ticket
$8.05₱494
$7.26₱446
10.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$323₱19.8K
$81.6₱5,008
296.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,720₱474.0K
$6,963₱427.5K
10.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7₱3,664
$32.18₱1,976
85.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.00₱2,210
$30.10₱1,848
19.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.5₱5,251
$83.9₱5,148
2.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₱7,497
$93.3₱5,726
30.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makati
Binan City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$660₱40.5K
$269₱16.5K
144.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390₱23.9K
$177₱10.9K
119.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,259₱138.7K
$579₱35.6K
290.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,032₱63.4K
$394₱24.2K
161.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,059₱372.0K
$2,260₱138.7K
168.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,835₱235.5K
$899₱55.2K
326.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makati
Binan City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$610₱37.4K
-
-
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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Binan City: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Makati versus $269 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 $45.00 in Makati versus $21.00 in Binan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 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 36%, 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 $1,840 per month in Makati and $1,348 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 and in Binan City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,226 in Makati and $899 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 $323 per month in Makati and $81.6 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 living in Makati or in Binan City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Binan City, where all-in costs run around $899, than in Makati at $1,226. 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.