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 $1,188 per month in Makati vs $682 in Cauayan City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Makati vs $1,055 in Cauayan City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Makati vs $1,428 in Cauayan City, rent included.

Makati costs about 74% more than Cauayan City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Cauayan City are more affordable than the global median – Makati 11% lower, Cauayan City 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱402

$3.53 ₱217

84.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,770

$13.17 ₱811

241.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$2.72 ₱167

76.10%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.24 ₱138

31.70%

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

$1.20 ₱73.8

$0.30 ₱18.75

300.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.43

$0.31 ₱19.06

87.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.09 ₱67.2

114.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱219

$1.74 ₱107

104.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.65 ₱101

29.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$1.21 ₱74.5

18.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$0.93 ₱57.0

19.35%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$1.52 ₱93.3

53.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱492

$4.82 ₱297

65.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$3.90 ₱240

15.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$6.94 ₱427

11.10%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱279

$2.15 ₱132

111.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$0.83 ₱51.4

138.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.11 ₱130

28.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$0.69 ₱42.67

230.43%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$0.93 ₱57.3

270.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$1.36 ₱84.0

105.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$0.68 ₱41.73

67.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.7

$0.73 ₱45.09

35.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱184

$2.62 ₱161

14.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱493

$8.83 ₱544

-9.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$1.07 ₱66.1

16.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$2.09 ₱129

7.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.57

$0.28 ₱17.38

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.05

$0.93 ₱57.0

-18.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.20

$0.22 ₱13.49

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.45 ₱151

40.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$1.10 ₱67.8

4.55%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$17.8K ₱1.1M

91.10%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$20.5K ₱1.3M

7.26%

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

$170 ₱10.4K

$90.1 ₱5,546

88.35%

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

$27.66 ₱1,703

$34.70 ₱2,137

-20.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,203

$26.66 ₱1,642

34.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,371

$33.87 ₱2,086

61.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

$4.32 ₱266

178.47%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱505

$4.22 ₱260

94.31%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$53.6 ₱3,303

504.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱472.8K

$1,788 ₱110.1K

329.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,628

$26.83 ₱1,652

119.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,209

$21.31 ₱1,312

68.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,175

$53.0 ₱3,262

58.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,609

$46.24 ₱2,847

167.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.4K

$262 ₱16.1K

150.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$175 ₱10.8K

123.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱140.0K

$596 ₱36.7K

281.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.0K

$402 ₱24.7K

150.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

$2,592 ₱159.6K

131.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

$1,003 ₱61.7K

272.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$212 ₱13.1K

185.03%

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 12, 2026

Last update for Cauayan City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $657 in Makati versus $262 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 185% 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 Cauayan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $165 – 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: $1,188 in Makati, $682 in Cauayan City – roughly 74% apart. Makati costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,783 per month in Makati and $1,023 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 $1,188 in Makati and $682 in Cauayan City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $324 per month in Makati and $53.6 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 $682, than in Makati at $1,188. 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 $682 in Cauayan City to $1,188 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.