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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Makati vs $995 in Cainta, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,017 per month in Makati vs $1,383 in Cainta, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,812 per month in Makati vs $1,772 in Cainta, rent included.

Makati costs about 23% more than Cainta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Makati and Cainta are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Cainta 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.85 ₱412

$3.45 ₱208

98.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.09 ₱2,655

$17.74 ₱1,068

148.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ₱300

$2.83 ₱171

75.62%

Cappuccino

$2.96 ₱178

$2.67 ₱161

10.86%

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

$1.15 ₱69.1

$0.91 ₱54.5

26.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₱34.46

$0.54 ₱32.74

5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ₱140

$1.54 ₱93.0

50.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 ₱213

$2.64 ₱159

34.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₱130

$1.88 ₱113

15.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱89.9

$1.34 ₱80.7

11.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.1

$1.05 ₱63.1

0.95%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱134

$2.17 ₱131

2.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 ₱497

$9.61 ₱579

-14.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱266

$5.30 ₱319

-16.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 ₱454

$8.55 ₱515

-11.81%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 ₱275

$3.43 ₱207

32.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₱115

$1.77 ₱106

7.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱163

$3.66 ₱220

-25.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱131

$2.38 ₱143

-8.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.31 ₱199

$2.82 ₱170

17.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱169

$3.14 ₱189

-10.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱65.5

$2.01 ₱121

-45.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱61.3

$0.70 ₱42.06

45.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱180

$3.31 ₱199

-9.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.52 ₱513

$9.37 ₱564

-9.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱75.2

$1.45 ₱87.4

-13.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₱138

$2.20 ₱132

4.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱32.85

$0.28 ₱16.92

96.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.57 ₱215

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱46.81

$0.87 ₱52.2

-10.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.06

$0.24 ₱14.46

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ₱209

$2.19 ₱132

58.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.5

$1.16 ₱69.9

-0.86%

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

$33.5K ₱2.0M

$26.5K ₱1.6M

26.47%

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

$21.7K ₱1.3M

$23.1K ₱1.4M

-6.23%

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

$169 ₱10.2K

$137 ₱8,247

23.38%

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

$26.89 ₱1,619

$21.95 ₱1,322

22.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.15 ₱2,177

$27.80 ₱1,674

30.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.4 ₱3,339

$34.33 ₱2,067

61.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱704

$4.37 ₱263

167.51%

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 ₱477

$6.78 ₱408

16.96%

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

$324 ₱19.5K

$125 ₱7,506

159.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,613 ₱458.5K

$4,362 ₱262.7K

74.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 ₱3,565

$45.62 ₱2,747

29.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.26 ₱2,124

$35.28 ₱2,125

-0.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 ₱5,188

$84.0 ₱5,060

2.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,375

$47.46 ₱2,858

158.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$661 ₱39.8K

$266 ₱16.0K

148.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱23.9K

$350 ₱21.1K

13.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,254 ₱135.8K

$578 ₱34.8K

289.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,023 ₱61.6K

$394 ₱23.7K

159.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,076 ₱366.0K

$2,208 ₱133.0K

175.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,885 ₱234.0K

$1,131 ₱68.1K

243.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$706 ₱42.5K

$449 ₱27.0K

57.18%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Cainta: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $661 in Makati versus $266 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 57% 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 $44.00 in Makati versus $18.00 in Cainta. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Makati vs $242 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 23%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,834 per month in Makati and $1,492 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 $1,223 in Makati and $995 in Cainta. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $324 per month in Makati and $125 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 $995, than in Makati at $1,223. 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.