Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Calbayog Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Calbayog

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,237 per month in Makati vs $723 in Calbayog, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,035 per month in Makati vs $1,106 in Calbayog, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Makati vs $1,488 in Calbayog, rent included.

Makati costs about 71% more than Calbayog, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Calbayog are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Calbayog 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱403

$3.80 ₱238

69.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,508

$17.03 ₱1,067

135.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱287

$2.77 ₱174

65.34%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$2.26 ₱141

15.04%

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

$1.13 ₱70.6

$0.63 ₱39.38

79.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱30.09

$0.34 ₱21.40

41.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱151

$1.12 ₱70.4

115.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱204

$1.83 ₱115

77.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.62 ₱101

19.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.9

$1.12 ₱70.0

9.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.9

$0.91 ₱57.0

17.58%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱155

$1.89 ₱118

30.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱457

$5.48 ₱344

32.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.13 ₱259

17.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱433

$7.09 ₱444

-2.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱250

$2.37 ₱148

67.93%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.55 ₱97.1

29.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱202

$2.33 ₱146

38.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.18 ₱73.9

100.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱216

$2.04 ₱128

69.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱215

$1.95 ₱122

75.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.6

$0.83 ₱52.3

33.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.7

$0.53 ₱32.99

118.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.84 ₱178

-9.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱506

$7.83 ₱491

3.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.4

$0.97 ₱60.6

39.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱129

$1.93 ₱121

6.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.25 ₱15.48

292.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,627

$11.18 ₱701

417.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.52

$0.77 ₱48.35

-20.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.25 ₱15.68

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.88 ₱118

-1.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱74.0

$1.16 ₱72.9

1.72%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

2.27%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

0.58%

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

$154 ₱9,678

$122 ₱7,659

26.36%

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

$16.28 ₱1,020

$15.07 ₱944

8.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,962

$24.27 ₱1,521

29.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,382

$32.07 ₱2,010

68.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱897

$4.85 ₱304

195.05%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱445

$5.08 ₱318

39.76%

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

$783 ₱49.1K

$134 ₱8,369

486.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱462.1K

$8,012 ₱502.1K

-7.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,779

$31.60 ₱1,980

90.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,357

$19.39 ₱1,215

93.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,150

$72.7 ₱4,555

13.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,548

$55.2 ₱3,461

89.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.3K

$265 ₱16.6K

185.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$172 ₱10.8K

149.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱146.5K

$504 ₱31.6K

364.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱67.2K

$357 ₱22.4K

200.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱372.3K

$2,549 ₱159.7K

133.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱239.2K

$1,041 ₱65.3K

266.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱38.0K

$155 ₱9,708

291.34%

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 6, 2026

Last update for Calbayog: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $755 in Makati versus $265 in Calbayog. 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 291% 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 Calbayog. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $177 – making Calbayog 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 Calbayog: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Makati is pricier by about 71%, 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 $1,855 per month in Makati and $1,085 in Calbayog. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calbayog, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Makati, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Makati and $17.00 in Calbayog. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Calbayog, where all-in costs run around $723, than in Makati at $1,237. In Calbayog it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Calbayog – 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 Calbayog. 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.