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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Makati vs $609 in Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,009 per month in Makati vs $1,025 in Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,786 per month in Makati vs $1,440 in Cavite, rent included.

Makati costs about 102% more than Cavite, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Makati and Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Cavite 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ₱419

$2.74 ₱169

148.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.15 ₱2,784

$13.37 ₱825

237.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ₱304

$2.65 ₱163

86.04%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱177

$1.95 ₱120

47.18%

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

$1.19 ₱73.5

$0.67 ₱41.09

77.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.76

$0.31 ₱18.87

80.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱151

$1.21 ₱74.9

101.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₱225

$1.74 ₱107

110.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.73 ₱107

23.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.4

$1.24 ₱76.3

15.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$1.05 ₱64.6

2.86%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.27 ₱140

3.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱503

$7.52 ₱464

8.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱273

$3.86 ₱238

14.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$6.98 ₱431

9.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱282

$2.59 ₱159

76.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.35 ₱83.3

42.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$2.37 ₱146

13.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$1.17 ₱72.4

92.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$1.85 ₱114

77.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$1.63 ₱101

75.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.8

$0.56 ₱34.57

92.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.3

$0.57 ₱35.08

73.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱181

$2.26 ₱139

30.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

$4.97 ₱306

66.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.1

$1.02 ₱63.0

17.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.39 ₱85.9

68.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.71

$0.28 ₱17.48

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

$3.17 ₱195

12.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.69 ₱42.54

17.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.44

$0.22 ₱13.49

-45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.38 ₱147

50.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.8

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$32.1K ₱2.0M

6.72%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

3.46%

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

$172 ₱10.6K

$49.25 ₱3,037

249.28%

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

$26.94 ₱1,661

$17.55 ₱1,082

53.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.49 ₱2,250

$26.70 ₱1,646

36.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,452

$34.30 ₱2,115

63.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₱727

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 ₱487

$5.70 ₱351

38.60%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$153 ₱9,455

109.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,538 ₱464.8K

$4,675 ₱288.2K

61.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,717

$40.09 ₱2,472

50.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₱2,197

$26.72 ₱1,648

33.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 ₱5,277

$75.8 ₱4,672

12.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,516

$45.60 ₱2,812

167.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱41.1K

$158 ₱9,743

321.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$124 ₱7,624

215.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 ₱139.4K

$264 ₱16.3K

756.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₱63.1K

$400 ₱24.6K

156.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.0K

$229 ₱14.1K

197.42%

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 Cavite: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $666 in Makati versus $158 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 197% 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 Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $178 – 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 102%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,849 per month in Makati and $913 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 $1,232 in Makati and $609 in Cavite. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% 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 $609, than in Makati at $1,232. 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.