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: $1,228 in Makati versus $528 in Calamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Makati versus $775 in Calamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Makati versus $1,021 in Calamba.

Living in Makati is roughly 133% more expensive than in Calamba, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Calamba 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 ₱411

$3.91 ₱245

68.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.99 ₱2,501

$12.20 ₱763

227.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 ₱287

$2.80 ₱175

63.93%

Cappuccino

$2.76 ₱173

$1.78 ₱111

55.06%

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

$1.07 ₱67.2

$0.56 ₱35.07

91.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.17

$0.32 ₱19.98

40.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱151

$0.88 ₱55.2

175.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱203

$1.64 ₱102

98.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ₱115

$1.68 ₱105

8.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 ₱80.6

$1.11 ₱69.4

16.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱64.3

$1.01 ₱63.2

1.98%

Eggs

$2.38 ₱149

$2.10 ₱131

13.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 ₱457

$5.05 ₱316

44.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 ₱303

$3.36 ₱210

44.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.19 ₱449

$7.70 ₱482

-6.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱249

$2.20 ₱138

80.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.61 ₱100

26.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 ₱204

$2.31 ₱145

41.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$1.05 ₱65.4

120.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 ₱217

$1.70 ₱106

104.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.47 ₱217

$1.73 ₱108

100.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₱70.0

$0.66 ₱41.13

69.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₱69.4

$0.50 ₱31.26

122.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 ₱169

$2.94 ₱184

-8.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.86 ₱491

$8.65 ₱541

-9.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₱87.4

$0.91 ₱56.8

53.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱130

$2.00 ₱125

4.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₱56.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.3 ₱3,582

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.10

$0.82 ₱51.4

-25.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.10

$0.25 ₱15.65

-16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱117

$1.97 ₱123

-4.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₱78.3

$0.94 ₱58.8

32.98%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.8K ₱1.4M

-2.36%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

1.84%

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

$154 ₱9,612

$144 ₱8,992

6.90%

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

$15.78 ₱987

$17.74 ₱1,110

-11.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.11 ₱2,008

$23.94 ₱1,497

34.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 ₱3,413

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.41 ₱901

Cinema Ticket

$7.39 ₱462

$5.12 ₱320

44.34%

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

$790 ₱49.4K

$135 ₱8,450

484.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,405 ₱463.1K

$10.9K ₱684.6K

-32.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ₱3,742

$29.37 ₱1,836

103.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.65 ₱2,354

$19.59 ₱1,225

92.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,138

$71.4 ₱4,462

15.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 ₱6,469

$55.8 ₱3,492

85.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$748 ₱46.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$430 ₱26.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,276 ₱142.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 ₱67.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,003 ₱375.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,832 ₱239.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.1K

$260 ₱16.3K

134.23%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Calamba: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Makati pays 134% 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: $40.00 in Makati vs $12.00 in Calamba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $174 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 133% 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 134% higher in Makati, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in Makati. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,228 per month in Makati versus $528 in Calamba – a 133% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $528 in Calamba versus $1,228 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 $528 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 133% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.