Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Cagayan de Oro City

For one person, living is cheaper in Cagayan de Oro City: $801 a month against $1,230 in Makati, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Makati, Philippines
Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
Makati
🇵🇭 Philippines
$1,230
/mo nomad
Cagayan de Oro City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$801
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Makati and in Cagayan de Oro City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Makati and in Cagayan de Oro City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,230 in Makati versus $801 in Cagayan de Oro City.

  • Makati $1,230
  • Cagayan de Oro City $801

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Makati versus $1,142 in Cagayan de Oro City.

  • Makati $2,137
  • Cagayan de Oro City $1,142

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,044 in Makati versus $1,484 in Cagayan de Oro City.

  • Makati $3,044
  • Cagayan de Oro City $1,484

Living in Makati is roughly 54% more expensive than in Cagayan de Oro City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Cagayan de Oro City 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.40 ₱407
$3.52 ₱224
81.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.45 ₱2,449
$12.33 ₱786
211.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.78 ₱305
$2.89 ₱184
65.40%
Cappuccino
$2.59 ₱165
$2.26 ₱144
14.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 ₱69.7
$0.69 ₱43.93
57.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₱31.29
$0.66 ₱42.31
-25.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 ₱152
$1.33 ₱84.7
79.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ₱202
$2.00 ₱127
59.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 ₱115
$1.44 ₱91.7
25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 ₱80.6
$0.89 ₱56.4
41.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 ₱65.6
$0.91 ₱57.7
13.19%
Eggs
$2.37 ₱151
$2.06 ₱131
15.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.91 ₱440
$8.08 ₱515
-14.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.93 ₱314
$3.25 ₱207
51.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.74 ₱429
$5.77 ₱368
16.81%
Apples (1kg)
$4.12 ₱262
$2.13 ₱136
93.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 ₱121
$1.05 ₱67.1
80.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.19 ₱203
$2.30 ₱146
38.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 ₱143
$1.12 ₱71.4
100.89%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 ₱226
$1.97 ₱126
80.20%
Onion (1kg)
$3.50 ₱223
$2.57 ₱164
36.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ₱67.9
$0.76 ₱48.37
40.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 ₱71.7
$0.47 ₱30.23
140.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.60 ₱165
$2.92 ₱186
-10.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.85 ₱500
$3.93 ₱251
99.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₱82.3
$1.26 ₱80.4
2.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 ₱123
$1.92 ₱122
0.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ₱56.3
$0.29 ₱18.27
203.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.3 ₱3,583
$11.49 ₱732
389.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.65 ₱41.46
$0.62 ₱39.29
4.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.33
$0.22 ₱14.04
-4.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.90 ₱121
$1.90 ₱121
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 ₱81.4
$1.01 ₱64.6
26.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K ₱1.3M
$20.9K ₱1.3M
-0.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9K ₱1.2M
$19.1K ₱1.2M
-1.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 ₱9,639
$131 ₱8,367
15.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.59 ₱993
$22.03 ₱1,403
-29.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.38 ₱1,999
$30.16 ₱1,921
4.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.3 ₱3,393
$24.12 ₱1,536
120.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.04 ₱894
$2.80 ₱178
401.43%
Cinema Ticket
$7.22 ₱460
$4.35 ₱277
65.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$776 ₱49.4K
$64.3 ₱4,098
1105.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,391 ₱470.7K
$2,231 ₱142.1K
231.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.9 ₱3,814
$31.70 ₱2,019
88.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.96 ₱2,354
$13.22 ₱842
179.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.0 ₱5,161
$50.4 ₱3,210
60.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 ₱6,426
$39.53 ₱2,518
155.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$829 ₱52.8K
$424 ₱27.0K
95.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$429 ₱27.3K
$267 ₱17.0K
60.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,151 ₱137.0K
$667 ₱42.5K
222.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,308 ₱83.3K
$441 ₱28.1K
196.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,714 ₱363.9K
$1,562 ₱99.5K
265.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,568 ₱227.3K
$955 ₱60.9K
273.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makati
Cagayan de Oro City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$587 ₱37.4K
$307 ₱19.6K
91.24%
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: October 26, 2026

Last update for Cagayan de Oro City: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Makati
$429
Cagayan de Oro City
$267 37.7% $162
Groceries & Markets
Makati
$227
Cagayan de Oro City
$162 28.5% $65
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makati
$198
Cagayan de Oro City
$184 7.4% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Makati
$125
Cagayan de Oro City
$61 51.6% $65
Eating Out
Makati
$121
Cagayan de Oro City
$80 34% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Makati
$68
Cagayan de Oro City
$33 51.5% $35
Getting Around
Makati
$61
Cagayan de Oro City
$14 76.6% $47

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $829 in Makati and $424 in Cagayan de Oro City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 91% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $38 in Makati vs $12 in Cagayan de Oro City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $227 vs $162 per month, with Cagayan de Oro City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Makati
🇵🇭 Cagayan de Oro City
🕒 Local time
19:41 7:41 PM
19:41 7:41 PM
Same time as Makati
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
582,602
728,402
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 63.69 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.08 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Makati Cagayan de Oro City 780 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Makati
  • Cagayan de Oro City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,230 in Makati and $801 in Cagayan de Oro City, so Cagayan de Oro City is about 35% cheaper – 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 91% 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: $829 in Makati versus $424 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 $12 versus $38 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $801 in Cagayan de Oro City versus $1,230 in Makati, a $1,200 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 both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Where should expats move: Makati or Cagayan de Oro City?
Expats usually find Cagayan de Oro City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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