Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Calamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Calamba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,188 in Makati versus $696 in Calamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,181 in Calamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,665 in Calamba.

Living in Makati is roughly 71% more expensive than in Calamba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Calamba 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱402

$3.64 ₱224

79.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,770

$13.16 ₱810

241.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$2.58 ₱159

85.66%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.39 ₱147

23.43%

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

$1.20 ₱73.8

$0.65 ₱40.01

84.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.43

$0.41 ₱24.98

41.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.05 ₱64.6

122.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱219

$2.00 ₱123

78.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.86 ₱115

15.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$1.19 ₱73.1

20.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$1.10 ₱67.8

0.91%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.29 ₱141

1.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱492

$9.38 ₱578

-14.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$3.82 ₱235

18.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$8.37 ₱516

-7.89%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱279

$2.67 ₱164

70.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.86 ₱115

6.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.37 ₱146

14.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.16 ₱71.4

96.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$1.82 ₱112

89.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$2.19 ₱135

27.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$0.68 ₱42.08

67.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.7

$0.72 ₱44.36

37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱184

$3.36 ₱207

-11.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱493

$8.77 ₱540

-8.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$1.04 ₱63.8

20.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$2.34 ₱144

-4.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.57

$0.26 ₱15.88

96.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.05

$0.87 ₱53.8

-12.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.20

$0.22 ₱13.53

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.42 ₱149

42.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$1.15 ₱70.8

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$32.0K ₱2.0M

6.45%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

6.70%

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

$170 ₱10.4K

$147 ₱9,069

15.19%

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

$27.66 ₱1,703

$34.10 ₱2,099

-18.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,203

$25.99 ₱1,600

37.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,371

$34.44 ₱2,120

58.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

$4.56 ₱281

163.82%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱505

$5.65 ₱348

45.13%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$153 ₱9,390

112.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱472.8K

$4,800 ₱295.5K

60.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,628

$49.68 ₱3,058

18.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,209

$27.12 ₱1,670

32.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,174

$74.8 ₱4,605

12.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,609

$46.97 ₱2,892

163.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.4K

$124 ₱7,616

430.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$81.2 ₱4,998

380.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱139.9K

$591 ₱36.4K

284.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.0K

$397 ₱24.4K

154.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$258 ₱15.9K

134.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

4.5

48.22%

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

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for Calamba: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $124 in Calamba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 135% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $45.00 in Makati vs $13.00 in Calamba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $205 per month, with Calamba cheaper across the board.

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 Calamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calamba wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calamba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 135% higher in Makati, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $657 in Makati versus $124 in Calamba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,188 per month in Makati versus $696 in Calamba – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $696 in Calamba versus $1,188 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Calamba but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Calamba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Calamba delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $696 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Calamba hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Calamba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Calamba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.