Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Cauayan City Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Cauayan City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Makati vs $685 in Cauayan City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,009 per month in Makati vs $1,058 in Cauayan City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,786 per month in Makati vs $1,431 in Cauayan City, rent included.

Makati costs about 80% more than Cauayan City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ₱419

$3.58 ₱221

89.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.15 ₱2,784

$13.51 ₱833

234.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ₱304

$2.59 ₱160

90.35%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱177

$2.32 ₱143

23.71%

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

$1.19 ₱73.5

$0.30 ₱18.78

296.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.76

$0.31 ₱18.85

80.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱151

$1.05 ₱64.7

132.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₱225

$1.76 ₱108

107.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.71 ₱106

25.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.4

$1.25 ₱77.2

14.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$0.93 ₱57.2

16.13%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$1.48 ₱91.1

58.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱503

$5.01 ₱309

62.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱273

$3.90 ₱241

13.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$7.04 ₱434

8.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱282

$2.15 ₱133

112.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$0.78 ₱48.25

146.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$2.10 ₱130

28.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$0.73 ₱45.15

208.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$0.90 ₱55.7

265.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$1.35 ₱83.1

111.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.8

$0.71 ₱43.81

52.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.3

$0.70 ₱42.92

41.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱181

$2.63 ₱162

11.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

$8.87 ₱547

-6.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.1

$1.03 ₱63.7

16.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$2.19 ₱135

6.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.71

$0.28 ₱17.28

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.91 ₱55.9

-10.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.44

$0.22 ₱13.49

-45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.34 ₱145

52.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.8

$1.10 ₱68.0

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$17.5K ₱1.1M

96.14%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.1K ₱1.2M

6.92%

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

$172 ₱10.6K

$88.0 ₱5,427

95.48%

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

$26.94 ₱1,661

$34.44 ₱2,123

-21.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.49 ₱2,250

$26.71 ₱1,647

36.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,452

$33.97 ₱2,095

64.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₱727

$4.45 ₱274

164.94%

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 ₱487

$4.27 ₱263

85.01%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$53.5 ₱3,296

499.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,538 ₱464.8K

$1,768 ₱109.0K

326.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,717

$26.40 ₱1,628

128.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₱2,197

$21.60 ₱1,332

64.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 ₱5,277

$53.4 ₱3,292

60.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,516

$46.75 ₱2,883

160.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱41.1K

$264 ₱16.3K

152.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$176 ₱10.9K

121.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 ₱139.4K

$586 ₱36.2K

285.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₱63.1K

$400 ₱24.6K

156.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.6K

$2,635 ₱162.5K

128.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.5K

$1,073 ₱66.2K

258.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.0K

$214 ₱13.2K

218.02%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Cauayan City: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $666 in Makati versus $264 in Cauayan City. 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 218% 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 $14.00 in Cauayan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $166 – making Cauayan City 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 Cauayan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Makati, $685 in Cauayan City – roughly 80% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,849 per month in Makati and $1,028 in Cauayan City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Makati and $685 in Cauayan City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $321 per month in Makati and $53.5 in Cauayan City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cauayan City, where all-in costs run around $685, than in Makati at $1,232. In Cauayan City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Makati has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $685 in Cauayan City to $1,232 in Makati. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Cauayan City. 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.