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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Makati vs $718 in Bulacan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,009 per month in Makati vs $1,050 in Bulacan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,786 per month in Makati vs $1,383 in Bulacan, rent included.

Makati costs about 72% more than Bulacan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Bulacan are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Bulacan 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ₱419

$2.70 ₱167

151.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.15 ₱2,786

$14.10 ₱870

220.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ₱304

$2.83 ₱174

74.20%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱177

$2.22 ₱137

29.28%

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

$1.19 ₱73.5

$0.68 ₱41.87

75.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.79

$0.31 ₱18.93

80.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱151

$1.04 ₱63.9

134.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₱226

$2.10 ₱129

74.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$2.11 ₱130

1.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.5

$1.25 ₱77.1

14.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.6

$0.92 ₱56.7

17.39%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$1.97 ₱121

18.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱504

$3.04 ₱188

168.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱273

$3.70 ₱228

19.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$6.67 ₱412

14.54%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱282

$2.07 ₱128

120.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.44 ₱88.6

33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$2.14 ₱132

26.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$1.43 ₱88.2

57.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$1.74 ₱107

89.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$1.52 ₱93.7

88.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.9

$0.88 ₱54.1

22.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.4

$0.84 ₱52.1

17.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱182

$2.87 ₱177

2.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

$3.63 ₱224

128.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.2

$1.09 ₱67.3

10.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.62 ₱100

44.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.73

$0.29 ₱17.96

75.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

$7.49 ₱462

-52.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.76 ₱47.06

6.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.45

$0.24 ₱14.85

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.72 ₱168

31.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.10 ₱67.6

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$27.1K ₱1.7M

26.53%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$14.7K ₱906.1K

46.40%

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

$172 ₱10.6K

$113 ₱6,947

52.80%

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

$26.94 ₱1,663

$32.16 ₱1,985

-16.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.49 ₱2,251

$27.96 ₱1,725

30.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,455

$40.56 ₱2,502

38.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₱727

$4.40 ₱272

167.95%

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 ₱488

$6.38 ₱393

23.82%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$106 ₱6,561

201.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,538 ₱465.1K

$4,394 ₱271.1K

71.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,720

$29.90 ₱1,845

101.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₱2,198

$23.35 ₱1,441

52.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 ₱5,280

$75.8 ₱4,677

12.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,521

$98.2 ₱6,056

24.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱41.1K

$255 ₱15.7K

161.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.1K

$135 ₱8,332

188.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 ₱139.4K

$392 ₱24.2K

477.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₱63.2K

$202 ₱12.4K

407.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.8K

$1,907 ₱117.6K

215.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.7K

$1,479 ₱91.2K

160.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.1K

$294 ₱18.2K

131.67%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Bulacan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $666 in Makati versus $255 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 132% 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: $234 vs $165 – 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 72% 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 $1,849 per month in Makati and $1,076 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 $1,232 in Makati and $718 in Bulacan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 109% 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 $718, than in Makati at $1,232. 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 $718 versus $1,232 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.