Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Bulacan Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Bulacan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,188 per month in Makati vs $709 in Bulacan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Makati vs $1,047 in Bulacan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Makati vs $1,385 in Bulacan, rent included.

Makati costs about 68% more than Bulacan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Bulacan are more affordable than the global median – Makati 11% lower, Bulacan 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱402

$2.63 ₱162

148.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,770

$14.29 ₱879

214.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$2.86 ₱176

67.48%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.18 ₱134

35.32%

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

$1.20 ₱73.8

$0.68 ₱42.03

76.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.43

$0.33 ₱20.57

75.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.04 ₱63.9

125.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱219

$2.03 ₱125

75.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$2.04 ₱125

4.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$1.24 ₱76.4

15.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$0.98 ₱60.4

13.27%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$1.99 ₱122

17.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱492

$3.13 ₱193

155.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$3.49 ₱215

29.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$6.44 ₱397

19.72%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱279

$2.17 ₱134

109.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.44 ₱88.9

37.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.11 ₱130

28.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.47 ₱90.5

55.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$1.81 ₱112

90.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$1.51 ₱92.8

85.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$0.83 ₱51.1

37.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.7

$0.80 ₱49.24

23.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱184

$2.86 ₱176

4.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱493

$3.68 ₱227

117.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$1.04 ₱64.3

20.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.71 ₱105

30.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.57

$0.29 ₱17.92

75.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

$7.30 ₱449

-50.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.05

$0.81 ₱50.1

-6.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.20

$0.22 ₱13.51

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.64 ₱162

30.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$1.10 ₱67.5

4.55%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$27.3K ₱1.7M

24.75%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$14.8K ₱912.1K

48.67%

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

$170 ₱10.4K

$113 ₱6,971

49.85%

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

$27.66 ₱1,703

$32.87 ₱2,023

-15.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,203

$28.12 ₱1,731

27.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,371

$41.87 ₱2,578

30.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

$4.34 ₱267

177.19%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱505

$6.05 ₱372

35.54%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$105 ₱6,493

207.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱472.8K

$4,301 ₱264.8K

78.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,628

$30.11 ₱1,854

95.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,209

$23.21 ₱1,429

54.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,174

$75.5 ₱4,648

11.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,609

$99.1 ₱6,103

24.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.4K

$259 ₱15.9K

153.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$135 ₱8,317

189.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱139.9K

$391 ₱24.1K

481.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.0K

$201 ₱12.4K

401.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

$1,954 ₱120.3K

207.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

$1,461 ₱90.0K

155.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$293 ₱18.0K

106.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

6.17

8.10%

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

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bulacan: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $657 in Makati versus $259 in Bulacan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 107% higher in Makati, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Makati versus $14.00 in Bulacan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $164 – making Bulacan 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 Bulacan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Makati costs about 68% more than Bulacan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,783 per month in Makati and $1,063 in Bulacan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bulacan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,188 in Makati and $709 in Bulacan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 104% less in Bulacan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bulacan, where all-in costs run around $709, than in Makati at $1,188. In Bulacan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bulacan costs $709 versus $1,188 in Makati. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bulacan. 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.