Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Cabanatuan Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Cabanatuan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,226 per month in Makati vs $522 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,003 per month in Makati vs $1,035 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,780 per month in Makati vs $1,548 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

Makati costs about 135% more than Cabanatuan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Makati and Cabanatuan are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Cabanatuan 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$4.51 ₱276

46.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$35.99 ₱2,203

24.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$3.47 ₱212

37.46%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.84 ₱174

3.87%

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

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.85 ₱52.1

35.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.45 ₱27.33

15.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.48 ₱90.3

60.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$2.64 ₱162

36.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$2.06 ₱126

4.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.56 ₱95.3

-7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$0.99 ₱60.6

7.07%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$1.99 ₱122

18.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$3.54 ₱216

122.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$3.17 ₱194

41.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$6.74 ₱413

15.73%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$4.19 ₱256

5.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.26 ₱77.3

56.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$1.96 ₱120

32.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$0.82 ₱50.4

164.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$1.48 ₱90.6

130.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$1.46 ₱89.4

92.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$1.04 ₱63.6

4.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$0.82 ₱50.3

14.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$2.79 ₱171

5.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$5.64 ₱345

40.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$0.69 ₱41.96

78.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$1.73 ₱106

30.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.28 ₱17.23

96.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.70 ₱42.78

10.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.24 ₱14.73

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$0.93 ₱57.1

289.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.16 ₱71.1

-0.86%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$28.1K ₱1.7M

18.77%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$18.1K ₱1.1M

20.91%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$58.1 ₱3,559

198.06%

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

$27.42 ₱1,678

$20.86 ₱1,277

31.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$24.85 ₱1,521

46.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$12.25 ₱750

348.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

$4.35 ₱266

169.43%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$6.83 ₱418

17.86%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$152 ₱9,280

113.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$4,350 ₱266.3K

77.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$26.14 ₱1,600

128.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$34.55 ₱2,115

4.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$61.0 ₱3,735

40.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$47.20 ₱2,889

158.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$268 ₱16.4K

146.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$44.11 ₱2,700

783.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$599 ₱36.7K

277.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$401 ₱24.5K

157.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

$2,193 ₱134.2K

176.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

$967 ₱59.2K

296.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

$206 ₱12.6K

196.45%

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 28, 2026

Last update for Cabanatuan: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Makati versus $268 in Cabanatuan. 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 196% 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 $36.00 in Cabanatuan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $175 – making Cabanatuan 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 Cabanatuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,226 in Makati, $522 in Cabanatuan – roughly 135% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,840 per month in Makati and $783 in Cabanatuan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Makati and $36.00 in Cabanatuan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% more in Makati, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cabanatuan, where all-in costs run around $522, than in Makati at $1,226. In Cabanatuan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Makati has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $522 in Cabanatuan to $1,226 in Makati. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Cabanatuan. 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.