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 $739 in Cainta, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,005 per month in Makati vs $1,108 in Cainta, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,783 per month in Makati vs $1,477 in Cainta, rent included.

Makati costs about 66% more than Cainta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Cainta are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Cainta 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱407

$3.90 ₱245

65.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,531

$16.98 ₱1,067

137.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.93 ₱184

60.41%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.34 ₱147

13.25%

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

$1.11 ₱69.8

$1.20 ₱75.6

-7.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.47

$0.30 ₱19.13

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$1.21 ₱76.0

94.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$2.67 ₱168

19.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.62 ₱102

17.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.7

$1.15 ₱72.5

11.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.8

$1.01 ₱63.3

3.96%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱156

$2.31 ₱145

7.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱439

$5.13 ₱322

36.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱305

$3.48 ₱219

39.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱425

$7.01 ₱441

-3.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱259

$2.28 ₱143

80.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱126

$1.53 ₱96.0

30.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱201

$2.40 ₱151

32.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.04 ₱65.1

119.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$1.68 ₱106

109.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.71 ₱107

109.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.4

$0.62 ₱38.67

77.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.8

$0.49 ₱30.94

132.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.99 ₱188

-14.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱502

$8.97 ₱564

-10.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.9

$0.98 ₱61.7

34.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$2.01 ₱126

1.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.27 ₱16.70

262.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,619

$9.60 ₱603

500.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.21

$0.75 ₱47.24

-10.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.17

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱118

$1.96 ₱123

-4.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.1

$1.20 ₱75.5

3.33%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.7K ₱1.4M

-2.75%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

2.19%

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

$152 ₱9,557

$124 ₱7,767

23.04%

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

$16.13 ₱1,014

$14.75 ₱926

9.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,987

$22.90 ₱1,439

38.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,422

$33.77 ₱2,122

61.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱908

$5.09 ₱320

183.89%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱437

$5.03 ₱316

38.17%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$131 ₱8,206

514.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱468.3K

$8,779 ₱551.6K

-15.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,761

$29.21 ₱1,835

104.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,356

$19.62 ₱1,232

91.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,139

$72.5 ₱4,557

12.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,555

$54.9 ₱3,447

90.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.3K

$263 ₱16.5K

186.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱27.0K

$172 ₱10.8K

149.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱143.2K

$566 ₱35.5K

302.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.2K

$356 ₱22.3K

196.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱368.5K

$2,922 ₱183.6K

100.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱235.3K

$1,069 ₱67.1K

250.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

$421 ₱26.5K

44.86%

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: September 14, 2026

Last update for Cainta: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $752 in Makati versus $263 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 45% 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 $40.00 in Makati versus $17.00 in Cainta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $174 – making Cainta the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 66%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,108 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.

Public transport costs about 500% less in Cainta. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Makati and $131 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 $739, 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.