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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Makati vs $1,032 in Cainta, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,023 per month in Makati vs $1,379 in Cainta, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,841 per month in Makati vs $1,727 in Cainta, rent included.

Makati costs about 17% more than Cainta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Makati and Cainta are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Cainta 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 ₱412

$3.64 ₱225

83.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.22 ₱2,728

$17.88 ₱1,103

147.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱301

$2.89 ₱178

68.86%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ₱181

$2.61 ₱161

12.26%

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

$1.19 ₱73.7

$0.98 ₱60.4

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.78

$0.50 ₱30.73

12.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱150

$1.55 ₱95.4

56.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ₱223

$2.60 ₱161

39.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 ₱136

$1.89 ₱116

16.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱92.0

$1.35 ₱83.4

10.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.7

$1.05 ₱64.7

1.90%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.08 ₱128

12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₱505

$9.57 ₱590

-14.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱273

$5.17 ₱319

-14.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$8.41 ₱519

-8.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 ₱269

$3.47 ₱214

25.65%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱123

$1.77 ₱109

12.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ₱159

$3.48 ₱215

-26.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱138

$2.48 ₱153

-10.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱213

$2.69 ₱166

28.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱176

$3.09 ₱191

-7.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$1.98 ₱122

-42.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.7

$0.66 ₱40.52

54.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ₱175

$3.45 ₱213

-17.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 ₱501

$9.22 ₱569

-11.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱77.1

$1.51 ₱93.4

-17.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$2.14 ₱132

8.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₱33.40

$0.28 ₱17.47

92.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.64 ₱225

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.35

$0.87 ₱53.9

-10.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.49

$0.22 ₱13.49

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.65 ₱225

$2.14 ₱132

70.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.9

$1.13 ₱69.4

-2.65%

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

$33.4K ₱2.1M

$26.7K ₱1.6M

24.84%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$22.4K ₱1.4M

-4.28%

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

$171 ₱10.5K

$137 ₱8,476

24.19%

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

$26.96 ₱1,663

$21.64 ₱1,335

24.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.97 ₱2,219

$27.56 ₱1,700

30.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ₱3,430

$33.30 ₱2,054

67.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 ₱732

$4.41 ₱272

169.16%

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ₱505

$6.68 ₱412

22.60%

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

$322 ₱19.9K

$126 ₱7,768

155.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,811 ₱481.8K

$4,286 ₱264.3K

82.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₱3,628

$45.60 ₱2,813

28.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.76 ₱2,206

$35.34 ₱2,180

1.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 ₱5,174

$82.8 ₱5,110

1.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₱7,612

$46.76 ₱2,884

163.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 ₱41.2K

$263 ₱16.2K

154.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.8K

$350 ₱21.6K

15.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,307 ₱142.3K

$577 ₱35.6K

300.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 ₱62.6K

$391 ₱24.1K

159.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,283 ₱387.5K

$2,118 ₱130.7K

196.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,903 ₱240.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$712 ₱43.9K

$448 ₱27.6K

58.97%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Cainta: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $667 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 59% 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 – $236 in Makati vs $239 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 17%, 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 $1,807 per month in Makati and $1,548 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 $1,204 in Makati and $1,032 in Cainta. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $322 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 $1,032, than in Makati at $1,204. 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.