Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Caloocan Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Caloocan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,226 per month in Makati vs $661 in Caloocan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,003 per month in Makati vs $1,032 in Caloocan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,780 per month in Makati vs $1,404 in Caloocan, rent included.

Makati costs about 86% more than Caloocan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Caloocan are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Caloocan 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$3.50 ₱214

88.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$13.31 ₱815

236.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$2.59 ₱159

84.17%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$1.12 ₱68.5

163.39%

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

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.43 ₱26.21

167.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.37 ₱22.93

40.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.36 ₱83.5

74.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$1.93 ₱118

87.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.89 ₱116

13.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.24 ₱76.1

16.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$1.03 ₱63.3

2.91%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$1.98 ₱121

18.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$2.08 ₱127

278.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$2.80 ₱172

60.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$5.83 ₱357

33.79%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$2.08 ₱127

112.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.11 ₱67.8

77.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$2.32 ₱142

11.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.21 ₱74.2

79.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$1.26 ₱76.9

170.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$2.24 ₱137

25.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$0.72 ₱43.98

51.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$0.57 ₱35.14

64.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$3.27 ₱200

-9.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$4.76 ₱291

65.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$1.07 ₱65.3

14.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$2.35 ₱144

-4.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.22 ₱13.48

150.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.77 ₱47.12

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.24 ₱14.75

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$2.44 ₱149

48.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.16 ₱71.1

-0.86%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$32.3K ₱2.0M

3.46%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$20.0K ₱1.2M

9.11%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$61.2 ₱3,747

183.11%

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

$27.42 ₱1,678

$10.45 ₱640

162.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$26.05 ₱1,595

39.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$5.39 ₱330

920.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

$4.36 ₱267

168.81%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$5.75 ₱352

40.00%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$153 ₱9,349

111.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$4,785 ₱292.9K

61.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$49.63 ₱3,038

20.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$27.95 ₱1,711

28.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$53.3 ₱3,263

60.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$47.30 ₱2,896

158.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$295 ₱18.1K

123.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$266 ₱16.3K

46.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$582 ₱35.6K

288.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$530 ₱32.4K

94.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

$2,529 ₱154.8K

139.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

$1,028 ₱62.9K

273.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

$267 ₱16.3K

128.27%

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 28, 2026

Last update for Caloocan: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Makati versus $295 in Caloocan. 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 128% 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 $45.00 in Makati versus $13.00 in Caloocan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $151 – making Caloocan 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 Caloocan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Makati costs about 86% more than Caloocan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,840 per month in Makati and $991 in Caloocan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Makati and $13.00 in Caloocan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 54% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Caloocan, where all-in costs run around $661, than in Makati at $1,226. In Caloocan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Caloocan costs $661 versus $1,226 in Makati. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Caloocan. 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.