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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,186 per month in Makati vs $527 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,004 per month in Makati vs $1,043 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Makati vs $1,560 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

Makati costs about 125% more than Cabanatuan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Makati and Cabanatuan are more affordable than the global median – Makati 12% lower, Cabanatuan 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 ₱415

$4.50 ₱273

51.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.54 ₱2,705

$35.28 ₱2,142

26.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱296

$3.57 ₱217

36.69%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱174

$2.91 ₱177

-1.37%

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

$1.16 ₱70.4

$0.85 ₱51.9

36.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.32

$0.48 ₱29.30

10.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱148

$1.48 ₱89.7

64.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₱211

$2.59 ₱157

34.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ₱129

$1.95 ₱119

8.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱91.4

$1.61 ₱98.0

-6.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.7

$0.98 ₱59.6

14.29%

Eggs

$2.25 ₱137

$2.02 ₱122

11.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 ₱488

$3.62 ₱220

122.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱269

$3.15 ₱191

40.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 ₱474

$6.66 ₱404

17.27%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₱274

$4.19 ₱255

7.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₱116

$1.28 ₱77.4

49.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱165

$1.93 ₱117

40.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱133

$0.77 ₱46.80

184.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₱198

$1.44 ₱87.3

126.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₱178

$1.45 ₱88.3

102.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱66.6

$1.04 ₱62.9

5.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.1

$0.84 ₱51.2

17.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱173

$2.87 ₱174

-0.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.27 ₱502

$5.66 ₱344

46.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱71.9

$0.75 ₱45.61

57.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₱141

$1.81 ₱110

28.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱30.91

$0.28 ₱17.01

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.49 ₱212

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱46.80

$0.70 ₱42.34

10.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.76

$0.22 ₱13.28

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₱221

$0.87 ₱52.9

318.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.7

$1.11 ₱67.6

3.60%

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

$33.6K ₱2.0M

$28.5K ₱1.7M

17.92%

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

$22.1K ₱1.3M

$17.6K ₱1.1M

25.55%

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

$168 ₱10.2K

$58.3 ₱3,538

189.00%

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

$27.62 ₱1,677

$21.16 ₱1,285

30.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.63 ₱2,224

$25.19 ₱1,529

45.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 ₱3,428

$12.32 ₱748

358.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱710

$2.72 ₱165

329.78%

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 ₱471

$6.73 ₱408

15.30%

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

$320 ₱19.4K

$152 ₱9,245

110.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,666 ₱465.5K

$4,256 ₱258.4K

80.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 ₱3,554

$26.79 ₱1,627

118.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.71 ₱2,169

$33.81 ₱2,053

5.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 ₱5,231

$61.0 ₱3,703

41.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 ₱7,609

$46.37 ₱2,816

170.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.1K

$268 ₱16.3K

146.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₱23.9K

$44.88 ₱2,725

777.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 ₱137.4K

$591 ₱35.9K

282.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 ₱61.2K

$391 ₱23.7K

157.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,121 ₱371.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,737 ₱226.9K

$226 ₱13.7K

1550.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$693 ₱42.1K

$206 ₱12.5K

235.99%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Cabanatuan: June 8, 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 236% 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 $35.00 in Cabanatuan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 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: $1,186 in Makati, $527 in Cabanatuan – roughly 125% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,779 per month in Makati and $791 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 $35.00 in Cabanatuan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% 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 $527, than in Makati at $1,186. 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 $527 in Cabanatuan to $1,186 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.