😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Makati versus $750 in Cagayan de Oro City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,009 in Makati versus $1,121 in Cagayan de Oro City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,786 in Makati versus $1,493 in Cagayan de Oro City.
😐Living in Makati is roughly 64% more expensive than Cagayan de Oro City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Makati8% lower, Cagayan de Oro City44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.80₱419
$3.67₱226
85.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.15₱2,784
$14.04₱866
221.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.93₱304
$3.44₱212
43.31%
Cappuccino
$2.87₱177
$2.62₱162
9.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19₱73.5
$0.96₱59.2
23.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56₱34.76
$0.36₱22.11
55.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44₱151
$1.45₱89.4
68.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66₱225
$2.47₱152
48.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.14₱132
$1.66₱102
28.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43₱88.4
$0.98₱60.3
45.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.08₱66.5
$0.98₱60.2
10.20%
Eggs
$2.34₱144
$2.40₱148
-2.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.16₱503
$6.08₱375
34.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.43₱273
$3.48₱215
27.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.64₱471
$6.43₱397
18.82%
Apples(1kg)
$4.57₱282
$2.24₱138
104.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.92₱118
$1.13₱69.9
69.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.70₱166
$2.29₱141
17.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25₱139
$1.22₱75.2
84.43%
Potato(1kg)
$3.29₱203
$2.26₱139
45.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.86₱177
$2.79₱172
2.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08₱66.8
$0.85₱52.3
27.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99₱61.3
$0.51₱31.16
94.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.94₱181
$2.40₱148
22.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.28₱511
$3.95₱244
109.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20₱74.1
$1.34₱82.9
-10.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34₱144
$1.56₱96.3
50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51₱31.71
$0.41₱25.24
24.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.58₱221
$8.72₱538
-58.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.81₱50.0
$0.68₱41.72
19.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.12₱7.44
$0.22₱13.49
-45.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.58₱221
$2.18₱134
64.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10₱67.8
$1.14₱70.3
-3.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K₱2.1M
$20.2K₱1.2M
69.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5K₱1.3M
$18.9K₱1.2M
13.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$172₱10.6K
$105₱6,471
63.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.94₱1,661
$40.33₱2,487
-33.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.49₱2,250
$33.47₱2,064
9.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.0₱3,452
$22.08₱1,362
153.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.79₱727
$3.27₱202
260.55%
Cinema Ticket
$7.90₱487
$4.62₱285
71.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$321₱19.8K
$190₱11.7K
68.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,538₱464.8K
$2,462₱151.8K
206.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.3₱3,717
$35.46₱2,187
69.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.62₱2,197
$14.51₱895
145.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.6₱5,277
$58.7₱3,621
45.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₱7,516
$42.85₱2,642
184.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$666₱41.1K
$362₱22.3K
83.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390₱24.0K
$214₱13.2K
82.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,260₱139.4K
$581₱35.8K
289.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,024₱63.1K
$383₱23.6K
167.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,010₱370.6K
$1,668₱102.8K
260.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,852₱237.5K
$994₱61.3K
287.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$682₱42.0K
$313₱19.3K
117.42%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Cagayan de Oro City: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $666 in Makati and $362 in Cagayan de Oro City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Makati pays 117% 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 $234 vs $168 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 Cagayan de Oro City?
Makati and Cagayan de Oro City differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $750 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?
Makati pays 117% more on average, 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 Cagayan de Oro City?
Rent for a central apartment: $666 in Makati versus $362 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 40% 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 $750 in Cagayan de Oro City versus $1,232 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 64% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.