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 $623 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,005 per month in Makati vs $959 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,783 per month in Makati vs $1,296 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

Makati costs about 97% more than Cabanatuan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱407

$3.89 ₱244

66.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,531

$16.96 ₱1,066

137.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.81 ₱177

67.26%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$1.77 ₱111

49.72%

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

$1.11 ₱69.8

$0.61 ₱38.03

81.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.47

$0.33 ₱20.81

36.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$0.95 ₱59.8

147.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$1.57 ₱98.7

103.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.59 ₱100

20.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.7

$1.15 ₱72.0

11.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.8

$0.93 ₱58.5

12.90%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱156

$1.99 ₱125

24.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱439

$4.98 ₱313

40.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱305

$3.38 ₱212

43.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱425

$7.98 ₱501

-15.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱259

$2.22 ₱140

85.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱126

$1.05 ₱65.7

90.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱201

$2.30 ₱144

38.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$0.77 ₱48.50

196.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$1.71 ₱108

105.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.70 ₱107

111.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.4

$0.62 ₱38.98

77.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.8

$0.52 ₱32.90

119.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.91 ₱183

-11.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱502

$8.52 ₱535

-6.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.9

$0.96 ₱60.1

37.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.99 ₱125

2.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.30 ₱18.63

226.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,619

$9.95 ₱625

478.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.21

$0.76 ₱47.47

-11.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.17

$0.25 ₱15.81

-16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱118

$1.88 ₱118

-0.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.1

$0.94 ₱59.1

31.91%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

0.01%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.0K ₱1.2M

3.66%

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

$152 ₱9,557

$55.2 ₱3,469

175.48%

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

$16.13 ₱1,014

$17.82 ₱1,120

-9.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,987

$21.61 ₱1,358

46.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,422

$11.20 ₱704

386.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱908

$4.70 ₱295

207.45%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱437

$5.09 ₱320

36.54%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$130 ₱8,194

515.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱468.3K

$10.7K ₱673.1K

-30.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,761

$23.56 ₱1,480

154.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,356

$19.53 ₱1,227

92.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,139

$60.0 ₱3,767

36.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,555

$55.2 ₱3,471

88.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.3K

$291 ₱18.3K

158.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱27.0K

$170 ₱10.7K

152.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱143.2K

$535 ₱33.6K

326.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.2K

$299 ₱18.8K

252.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱368.5K

$2,306 ₱144.9K

154.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱235.3K

$907 ₱57.0K

313.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

$161 ₱10.1K

278.78%

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 Cabanatuan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $752 in Makati versus $291 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 279% 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 $17.00 in Cabanatuan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $168 – 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, $623 in Cabanatuan – roughly 97% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,840 per month in Makati and $934 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 $40.00 in Makati and $17.00 in Cabanatuan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,226 in Makati and $623 in Cabanatuan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cabanatuan, where all-in costs run around $623, 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 $623 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.