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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,226 per month in Makati vs $635 in Bulacan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,005 per month in Makati vs $923 in Bulacan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,783 per month in Makati vs $1,211 in Bulacan, rent included.

Makati costs about 93% more than Bulacan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Bulacan are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Bulacan 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱407

$1.95 ₱122

231.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,531

$15.69 ₱986

156.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.71 ₱170

73.43%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$1.77 ₱111

49.72%

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

$1.11 ₱69.8

$0.50 ₱31.56

122.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.47

$0.25 ₱15.57

80.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$0.94 ₱59.0

150.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$1.57 ₱98.9

103.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.63 ₱102

17.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.7

$1.10 ₱69.1

16.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.8

$0.87 ₱54.6

20.69%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱156

$1.76 ₱111

40.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱439

$2.72 ₱171

156.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱305

$3.49 ₱219

38.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱425

$5.95 ₱374

13.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱259

$2.02 ₱127

103.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱126

$1.57 ₱98.6

27.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱201

$2.00 ₱126

59.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.08 ₱67.6

111.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$1.58 ₱99.2

122.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.77 ₱112

102.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.4

$0.66 ₱41.33

66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.8

$0.53 ₱33.61

115.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.93 ₱184

-12.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱502

$3.56 ₱223

124.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.9

$0.92 ₱58.0

43.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.58 ₱99.3

28.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.19 ₱11.63

415.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,619

$6.71 ₱422

758.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.21

$0.70 ₱44.28

-4.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.17

$0.18 ₱11.00

16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱118

$1.93 ₱121

-3.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.1

$1.04 ₱65.7

19.23%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.5K ₱1.4M

-1.79%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$16.0K ₱1.0M

22.92%

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

$152 ₱9,557

$114 ₱7,193

32.87%

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

$16.13 ₱1,014

$17.31 ₱1,087

-6.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,987

$23.30 ₱1,464

35.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,422

$36.36 ₱2,284

49.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱908

$0.78 ₱48.73

1752.56%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱437

$5.15 ₱323

34.95%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$96.5 ₱6,064

731.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱468.3K

$972 ₱61.1K

666.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,761

$28.30 ₱1,778

111.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,356

$19.31 ₱1,213

94.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,139

$74.4 ₱4,676

9.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,555

$54.7 ₱3,434

90.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.3K

$237 ₱14.9K

217.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱27.0K

$149 ₱9,347

188.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱143.2K

$381 ₱23.9K

498.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.2K

$215 ₱13.5K

390.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱368.5K

$1,900 ₱119.4K

208.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱235.3K

$1,418 ₱89.1K

164.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

$296 ₱18.6K

105.90%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Bulacan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $752 in Makati versus $237 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 106% 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 $40.00 in Makati versus $16.00 in Bulacan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $146 – 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 93% 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 $1,840 per month in Makati and $952 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 $1,226 in Makati and $635 in Bulacan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 759% 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 $635, than in Makati at $1,226. 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 $635 versus $1,226 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.