Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Cavite Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Cavite

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,237 per month in Makati vs $566 in Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,035 per month in Makati vs $885 in Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Makati vs $1,204 in Cavite, rent included.

Makati costs about 118% more than Cavite, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Cavite 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱403

$2.34 ₱146

174.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,509

$15.99 ₱1,003

150.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱287

$2.39 ₱150

91.63%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱163

$1.77 ₱111

46.89%

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

$1.13 ₱70.6

$0.61 ₱38.01

85.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱30.10

$0.31 ₱19.74

54.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱151

$0.98 ₱61.2

145.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱204

$1.62 ₱102

100.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.43 ₱89.4

35.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.9

$1.11 ₱69.7

10.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.9

$0.89 ₱55.7

20.22%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱155

$1.92 ₱121

28.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱457

$5.20 ₱326

40.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$3.38 ₱212

43.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱433

$6.19 ₱388

11.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱250

$2.11 ₱132

88.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.15 ₱72.1

73.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱202

$2.39 ₱150

34.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.07 ₱67.1

121.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱216

$1.72 ₱108

100.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱215

$1.54 ₱96.4

122.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.6

$0.53 ₱33.24

109.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.7

$0.52 ₱32.67

123.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.02 ₱127

27.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱506

$4.75 ₱298

70.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.4

$0.88 ₱55.4

53.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱129

$1.25 ₱78.2

64.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,628

$13.32 ₱835

334.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.53

$0.62 ₱38.81

-1.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.43

$0.23 ₱14.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.87 ₱118

-0.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱74.0

$1.20 ₱75.1

-1.67%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.5K ₱1.4M

0.54%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$18.9K ₱1.2M

2.34%

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

$154 ₱9,681

$89.2 ₱5,592

73.13%

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

$16.28 ₱1,021

$13.79 ₱865

18.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,963

$23.86 ₱1,496

31.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,383

$48.25 ₱3,025

11.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱897

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱445

$5.14 ₱322

38.13%

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

$783 ₱49.1K

$132 ₱8,251

495.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱462.3K

$10.8K ₱676.0K

-31.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,780

$29.15 ₱1,827

106.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,358

$19.35 ₱1,213

94.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,151

$71.1 ₱4,456

15.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,550

$55.9 ₱3,506

86.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.3K

$135 ₱8,447

460.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$82.9 ₱5,195

417.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱146.5K

$238 ₱15.0K

879.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱67.2K

$190 ₱11.9K

465.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱372.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱239.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱38.0K

$225 ₱14.1K

168.89%

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 Cavite: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $755 in Makati versus $135 in Cavite. 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 169% 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 $16.00 in Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $153 – making Cavite 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 Cavite: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Makati is pricier by about 118%, 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 $849 in Cavite. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cavite, 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 $1,237 in Makati and $566 in Cavite. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 335% less in Cavite. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cavite, where all-in costs run around $566, than in Makati at $1,237. In Cavite it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cavite – 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 Cavite. 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.