Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Cebu Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Cebu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,228 in Makati versus $936 in Cebu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Makati versus $1,427 in Cebu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Makati versus $1,918 in Cebu.

Living in Makati is roughly 31% more expensive than in Cebu, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Cebu 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 ₱411

$3.09 ₱193

112.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.99 ₱2,501

$23.80 ₱1,488

68.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 ₱287

$4.10 ₱257

11.95%

Cappuccino

$2.76 ₱173

$2.60 ₱163

6.15%

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

$1.07 ₱67.2

$1.55 ₱96.9

-30.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.17

$0.54 ₱33.46

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱151

$1.73 ₱108

39.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱203

$2.19 ₱137

48.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ₱115

$1.92 ₱120

-4.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 ₱80.6

$1.39 ₱87.1

-7.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱64.3

$0.97 ₱60.8

6.19%

Eggs

$2.38 ₱149

$2.00 ₱125

19.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 ₱457

$9.93 ₱621

-26.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 ₱303

$4.38 ₱274

10.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.19 ₱449

$7.41 ₱463

-2.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱249

$3.46 ₱217

15.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.47 ₱91.7

38.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 ₱204

$2.41 ₱151

35.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$1.54 ₱96.5

50.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 ₱217

$2.36 ₱148

47.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.47 ₱217

$1.91 ₱119

81.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₱70.0

$1.24 ₱77.3

-9.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₱69.4

$0.66 ₱41.42

68.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 ₱169

$3.00 ₱188

-10.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.86 ₱491

$6.08 ₱380

29.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₱87.4

$1.31 ₱81.8

6.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱130

$1.73 ₱108

20.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₱56.1

$0.25 ₱15.65

260.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.3 ₱3,581

$12.73 ₱796

349.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.09

$0.75 ₱46.78

-18.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.10

$0.23 ₱14.41

-8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱117

$4.60 ₱288

-59.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₱78.3

$1.34 ₱83.7

-6.72%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.8K ₱1.4M

-2.35%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

1.41%

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

$154 ₱9,611

$121 ₱7,564

27.08%

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

$15.78 ₱987

$14.86 ₱929

6.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.11 ₱2,008

$27.84 ₱1,741

15.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 ₱3,413

$32.06 ₱2,005

70.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.41 ₱901

$6.43 ₱402

124.11%

Cinema Ticket

$7.39 ₱462

$5.64 ₱352

31.03%

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

$790 ₱49.4K

$273 ₱17.1K

188.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,405 ₱463.0K

$8,017 ₱501.3K

-7.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ₱3,741

$48.77 ₱3,050

22.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.65 ₱2,354

$25.49 ₱1,594

47.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,137

$78.1 ₱4,884

5.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 ₱6,468

$57.8 ₱3,616

78.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$748 ₱46.8K

$500 ₱31.3K

49.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$430 ₱26.9K

$300 ₱18.7K

43.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,276 ₱142.3K

$1,089 ₱68.1K

109.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 ₱67.5K

$632 ₱39.5K

70.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,003 ₱375.4K

$2,888 ₱180.6K

107.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,832 ₱239.6K

$1,877 ₱117.3K

104.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.1K

$346 ₱21.7K

75.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

7.2

4.17%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Makati: August 31, 2026

Last update for Cebu: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $748 in Makati and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 76% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $208 per month, with Cebu cheaper across the board.

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 Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 76% higher in Makati, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $748 in Makati versus $500 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,228 per month in Makati versus $936 in Cebu – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Cebu runs roughly 350% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $936 in Cebu versus $1,228 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Makati, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Makati and Cebu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.