Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Cainta Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Cainta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,226 per month in Makati vs $1,029 in Cainta, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,003 per month in Makati vs $1,384 in Cainta, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,780 per month in Makati vs $1,740 in Cainta, rent included.

Makati costs about 19% more than Cainta, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Makati and Cainta are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Cainta 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$3.57 ₱218

85.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$17.89 ₱1,095

150.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$2.84 ₱174

67.96%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.70 ₱165

9.26%

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

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.90 ₱55.0

27.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.55 ₱33.39

-5.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.49 ₱91.2

59.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$2.72 ₱166

32.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.88 ₱115

14.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.34 ₱82.3

7.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$1.05 ₱64.2

0.95%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$2.09 ₱128

12.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$9.38 ₱574

-16.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$5.08 ₱311

-11.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$8.32 ₱509

-6.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$3.35 ₱205

32.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.74 ₱106

13.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$3.54 ₱217

-26.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$2.49 ₱152

-12.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$2.69 ₱165

26.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$3.15 ₱193

-10.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$1.96 ₱120

-44.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$0.65 ₱39.69

44.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$3.38 ₱207

-12.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$9.08 ₱556

-13.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$1.47 ₱90.0

-16.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$2.19 ₱134

2.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.28 ₱17.14

96.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.88 ₱53.6

-12.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.24 ₱14.70

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$2.19 ₱134

65.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.13 ₱69.1

1.77%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$26.4K ₱1.6M

26.69%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$22.4K ₱1.4M

-2.55%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$139 ₱8,482

25.06%

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

$27.42 ₱1,678

$21.94 ₱1,343

24.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$28.00 ₱1,714

29.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$33.57 ₱2,055

63.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

$4.41 ₱270

165.76%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$6.69 ₱410

20.33%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$126 ₱7,700

156.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$4,310 ₱263.8K

79.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$46.97 ₱2,875

27.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$35.61 ₱2,180

1.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$83.6 ₱5,115

2.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$46.07 ₱2,820

165.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$261 ₱16.0K

152.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$356 ₱21.8K

9.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$576 ₱35.3K

292.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$391 ₱23.9K

164.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

$2,462 ₱150.7K

146.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

$1,009 ₱61.7K

280.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

$430 ₱26.3K

41.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

7.52

-11.30%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Makati: July 28, 2026

Last update for Cainta: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Makati versus $261 in Cainta. 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 42% 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 $18.00 in Cainta. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Makati vs $237 in Cainta – so Makati wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Cainta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Makati is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,840 per month in Makati and $1,543 in Cainta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cainta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,226 in Makati and $1,029 in Cainta. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $323 per month in Makati and $126 in Cainta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cainta, where all-in costs run around $1,029, than in Makati at $1,226. In Cainta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cainta – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Cainta. 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.