😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,188 in Makati versus $760 in Cagayan de Oro City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,122 in Cagayan de Oro City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,484 in Cagayan de Oro City.
🌍Living in Makati is roughly 56% more expensive than in Cagayan de Oro City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Makati11% lower, Cagayan de Oro City43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.53₱402
$3.88₱239
68.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.00₱2,770
$14.45₱890
211.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.79₱295
$3.38₱208
41.72%
Cappuccino
$2.95₱181
$2.52₱155
17.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20₱73.8
$0.98₱60.1
22.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58₱35.43
$0.36₱21.87
61.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.34₱144
$1.46₱90.0
60.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56₱219
$2.39₱147
48.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.14₱132
$1.65₱102
29.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43₱88.1
$0.91₱55.8
57.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11₱68.6
$0.92₱56.6
20.65%
Eggs
$2.33₱144
$2.40₱147
-2.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.99₱492
$6.11₱376
30.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.52₱279
$3.64₱224
24.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.71₱475
$6.64₱409
16.11%
Apples(1kg)
$4.54₱279
$2.33₱143
94.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98₱122
$1.13₱69.9
75.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.72₱168
$2.37₱146
14.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.28₱141
$1.28₱78.6
78.12%
Potato(1kg)
$3.45₱212
$2.26₱139
52.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.80₱173
$2.81₱173
-0.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14₱70.0
$0.91₱55.8
25.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99₱60.7
$0.47₱28.72
110.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99₱184
$2.49₱153
20.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.01₱493
$3.99₱246
100.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25₱76.9
$1.42₱87.3
-11.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24₱138
$1.55₱95.6
44.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51₱31.57
$0.41₱25.24
24.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.58₱220
$8.46₱521
-57.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76₱47.05
$0.70₱42.93
8.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.13₱8.20
$0.22₱13.54
-40.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.45₱212
$2.07₱127
66.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₱71.0
$1.14₱70.4
0.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K₱2.1M
$20.5K₱1.3M
66.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₱1.4M
$19.5K₱1.2M
13.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170₱10.4K
$106₱6,542
59.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.66₱1,703
$39.96₱2,460
-30.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.79₱2,203
$33.15₱2,041
7.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.8₱3,371
$21.81₱1,343
151.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.03₱741
$3.32₱204
262.35%
Cinema Ticket
$8.20₱505
$4.56₱281
79.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$324₱20.0K
$186₱11.5K
74.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,680₱472.8K
$2,518₱155.1K
204.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9₱3,628
$35.44₱2,182
66.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88₱2,209
$14.29₱880
151.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.1₱5,175
$56.6₱3,482
48.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124₱7,609
$43.47₱2,676
184.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$657₱40.4K
$356₱21.9K
84.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390₱24.0K
$214₱13.2K
82.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,273₱140.0K
$579₱35.6K
292.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,008₱62.0K
$374₱23.0K
169.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,013₱370.2K
$1,611₱99.2K
273.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,732₱229.8K
$989₱60.9K
277.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$605₱37.3K
$313₱19.3K
93.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
6.67
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026
Last update for Cagayan de Oro City: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $356 in Cagayan de Oro City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Makati pays 93% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Makati vs $14.00 in Cagayan de Oro City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $169 per month, with Cagayan de Oro City cheaper across the board.
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 Cagayan de Oro City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Makati and in Cagayan de Oro City?
Makati and Cagayan de Oro City differ by about 56% in total monthly costs ($1,188 vs $760 including rent). Cagayan de Oro City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Makati or Cagayan de Oro City?
Average pay runs 93% higher in Makati, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Makati and in Cagayan de Oro City?
Rent for a central apartment: $657 in Makati versus $356 in Cagayan de Oro City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Cagayan de Oro City – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $45.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $760 in Cagayan de Oro City versus $1,188 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Cagayan de Oro City but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Cagayan de Oro City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Makati and Cagayan de Oro City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Makati or Cagayan de Oro City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Makati and Cagayan de Oro City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Makati or Cagayan de Oro City?
Expats usually find Cagayan de Oro City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.