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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,188 per month in Makati vs $595 in Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Makati vs $1,003 in Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Makati vs $1,412 in Cavite, rent included.

Makati costs about 100% more than Cavite, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Makati and Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Makati 11% lower, Cavite 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱402

$2.74 ₱169

138.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,770

$13.24 ₱815

239.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$2.65 ₱163

80.75%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$1.94 ₱120

52.06%

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

$1.20 ₱73.8

$0.63 ₱38.63

90.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.43

$0.30 ₱18.75

93.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.22 ₱75.2

91.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱219

$1.78 ₱110

100.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.72 ₱106

24.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$1.26 ₱77.3

13.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$1.04 ₱64.2

6.73%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.27 ₱140

2.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱492

$7.37 ₱454

8.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$3.88 ₱239

16.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$6.96 ₱428

10.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱279

$2.73 ₱168

66.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.35 ₱83.3

46.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.38 ₱147

14.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.18 ₱72.4

93.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$1.84 ₱113

87.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$1.64 ₱101

70.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$0.56 ₱34.76

103.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.7

$0.57 ₱34.79

73.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱184

$2.23 ₱137

34.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱493

$4.94 ₱304

62.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$0.97 ₱59.9

28.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.43 ₱88.3

56.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.57

$0.28 ₱17.29

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

$3.12 ₱192

14.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.05

$0.73 ₱44.91

4.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.20

$0.22 ₱13.47

-40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.45 ₱151

40.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$1.16 ₱71.4

-0.86%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

7.28%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

9.24%

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

$170 ₱10.4K

$50.8 ₱3,126

234.13%

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

$27.66 ₱1,703

$18.00 ₱1,108

53.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,203

$26.39 ₱1,624

35.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,371

$33.76 ₱2,079

62.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱505

$5.83 ₱359

40.65%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$152 ₱9,361

113.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱472.8K

$4,669 ₱287.5K

64.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,628

$41.32 ₱2,544

42.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,209

$26.93 ₱1,658

33.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,174

$75.4 ₱4,644

11.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,609

$46.63 ₱2,871

165.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.4K

$162 ₱9,977

305.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$126 ₱7,752

210.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱139.9K

$264 ₱16.2K

761.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.0K

$393 ₱24.2K

156.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$224 ₱13.8K

170.07%

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 Cavite: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $657 in Makati versus $162 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 170% 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: $235 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 100%, 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 $1,783 per month in Makati and $893 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 $1,188 in Makati and $595 in Cavite. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 15% 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 $595, than in Makati at $1,188. 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.