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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Makati vs $676 in Caloocan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,017 per month in Makati vs $1,036 in Caloocan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,812 per month in Makati vs $1,396 in Caloocan, rent included.

Makati costs about 81% more than Caloocan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Caloocan are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Caloocan 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.85 ₱412

$3.64 ₱219

88.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.09 ₱2,655

$13.54 ₱815

225.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ₱300

$2.68 ₱161

85.45%

Cappuccino

$2.96 ₱178

$1.13 ₱68.3

161.95%

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

$1.15 ₱69.1

$0.46 ₱27.95

150.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₱34.46

$0.38 ₱22.72

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ₱140

$1.36 ₱82.1

70.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 ₱213

$2.00 ₱121

77.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₱130

$1.83 ₱110

18.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱89.9

$1.25 ₱75.4

19.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.1

$1.01 ₱60.7

4.95%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱134

$1.99 ₱120

11.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 ₱497

$2.19 ₱132

277.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱266

$2.92 ₱176

51.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 ₱454

$5.63 ₱339

33.93%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 ₱275

$2.01 ₱121

126.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₱115

$1.15 ₱69.5

65.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱163

$2.23 ₱135

21.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱131

$1.18 ₱70.9

83.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.31 ₱199

$1.23 ₱74.0

169.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱169

$2.21 ₱133

27.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱65.5

$0.68 ₱40.78

60.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱61.3

$0.54 ₱32.67

88.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱180

$3.30 ₱199

-9.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.52 ₱513

$5.02 ₱303

69.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱75.2

$1.07 ₱64.3

16.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₱138

$2.37 ₱142

-3.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱32.85

$0.20 ₱12.04

175.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.57 ₱215

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱46.81

$0.78 ₱46.68

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.06

$0.24 ₱14.52

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ₱209

$2.42 ₱146

43.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.5

$1.15 ₱69.3

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

$33.5K ₱2.0M

$31.3K ₱1.9M

7.13%

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

$21.7K ₱1.3M

$20.3K ₱1.2M

6.99%

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

$169 ₱10.2K

$59.2 ₱3,565

185.41%

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

$26.89 ₱1,619

$10.80 ₱651

148.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.15 ₱2,177

$26.28 ₱1,583

37.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.4 ₱3,339

$5.45 ₱328

917.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱704

$4.54 ₱274

157.49%

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 ₱477

$5.83 ₱351

36.02%

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

$324 ₱19.5K

$152 ₱9,175

112.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,613 ₱458.5K

$4,671 ₱281.3K

63.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 ₱3,565

$49.45 ₱2,978

19.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.26 ₱2,124

$27.59 ₱1,662

27.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 ₱5,188

$53.7 ₱3,232

60.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,375

$46.85 ₱2,822

161.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$661 ₱39.8K

$285 ₱17.2K

131.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱23.9K

$265 ₱16.0K

49.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,254 ₱135.8K

$594 ₱35.8K

279.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,023 ₱61.6K

$521 ₱31.4K

96.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,076 ₱366.0K

$2,496 ₱150.3K

143.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,885 ₱234.0K

$907 ₱54.6K

328.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$706 ₱42.5K

$281 ₱16.9K

151.23%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Caloocan: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $661 in Makati versus $285 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 151% 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 $14.00 in Caloocan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $150 – 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 81% 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 $1,834 per month in Makati and $1,014 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 $44.00 in Makati and $14.00 in Caloocan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 57% 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 $676, than in Makati at $1,223. 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 $676 versus $1,223 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.