Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Boracay Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Boracay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,237 in Makati versus $751 in Boracay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Makati versus $1,139 in Boracay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,527 in Boracay.

Living in Makati is roughly 65% more expensive than in Boracay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Boracay 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱403

$5.47 ₱343

17.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,509

$19.52 ₱1,223

105.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱287

$6.11 ₱383

-25.04%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$2.35 ₱147

10.64%

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

$1.13 ₱70.6

$0.65 ₱40.67

73.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱30.10

$0.25 ₱15.78

92.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱151

$1.09 ₱68.4

121.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱204

$1.85 ₱116

75.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.60 ₱100

21.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.9

$1.18 ₱73.9

4.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.9

$0.95 ₱59.9

12.63%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱155

$1.86 ₱117

32.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱457

$5.75 ₱360

26.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.00 ₱251

21.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱433

$7.37 ₱462

-6.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱250

$2.14 ₱134

85.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.62 ₱102

23.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱202

$2.51 ₱157

28.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.02 ₱63.7

132.35%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱216

$2.18 ₱137

58.26%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱215

$2.11 ₱132

62.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.6

$0.84 ₱52.5

32.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.7

$0.57 ₱35.65

103.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.34 ₱146

9.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱506

$8.07 ₱506

0.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.4

$0.98 ₱61.6

37.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱129

$1.94 ₱122

5.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.25 ₱15.51

292.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,628

$10.51 ₱659

450.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.53

$0.85 ₱53.2

-28.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.23 ₱14.72

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.82 ₱114

2.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱74.0

$1.13 ₱70.7

4.42%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$23.4K ₱1.5M

-7.64%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$18.1K ₱1.1M

7.12%

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

$154 ₱9,681

$110 ₱6,914

40.02%

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

$16.28 ₱1,021

$15.61 ₱978

4.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,963

$34.39 ₱2,156

-8.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,383

$33.83 ₱2,121

59.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱897

$4.86 ₱304

194.44%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱445

$5.22 ₱327

36.02%

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

$783 ₱49.1K

$126 ₱7,906

521.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱462.3K

$8,151 ₱511.0K

-9.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,780

$29.00 ₱1,818

107.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,358

$20.80 ₱1,304

80.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,151

$81.1 ₱5,083

1.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,550

$49.57 ₱3,107

110.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.3K

$272 ₱17.1K

177.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$174 ₱10.9K

146.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱146.5K

$491 ₱30.8K

376.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱67.2K

$352 ₱22.1K

204.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱372.4K

$2,596 ₱162.8K

128.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱239.2K

$1,021 ₱64.0K

273.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱38.0K

$230 ₱14.4K

163.82%

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 Boracay: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $755 in Makati and $272 in Boracay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 164% 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: $40.00 in Makati vs $20.00 in Boracay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $180 per month, with Boracay 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 Boracay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Makati and Boracay differ by about 65% in total monthly costs ($1,237 vs $751 including rent). Boracay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 164% higher in Makati, 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: $755 in Makati versus $272 in Boracay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Boracay – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $40.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $751 in Boracay versus $1,237 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Boracay but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Boracay 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 Boracay 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 Boracay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.