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: $1,232 in Makati versus $873 in Cebu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,009 in Makati versus $1,326 in Cebu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,786 in Makati versus $1,778 in Cebu.

Living in Makati is roughly 41% more expensive than Cebu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Cebu 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 ₱419

$4.33 ₱267

57.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.15 ₱2,784

$24.14 ₱1,489

87.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ₱304

$4.36 ₱269

13.07%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱177

$2.57 ₱159

11.67%

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

$1.19 ₱73.5

$0.84 ₱52.1

41.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.76

$0.43 ₱26.36

30.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱151

$1.53 ₱94.5

59.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₱225

$2.11 ₱130

73.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$2.21 ₱137

-3.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.4

$1.50 ₱92.6

-4.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$1.11 ₱68.7

-2.70%

Eggs

$2.34 ₱144

$2.33 ₱144

0.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 ₱503

$13.03 ₱803

-37.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 ₱273

$5.35 ₱330

-17.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱471

$7.50 ₱462

1.87%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 ₱282

$3.57 ₱220

28.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.45 ₱89.4

32.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$3.39 ₱209

-20.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$2.18 ₱134

3.21%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$2.59 ₱160

27.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱177

$2.48 ₱153

15.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱66.8

$0.92 ₱56.6

17.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.3

$0.79 ₱48.95

25.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱181

$3.11 ₱192

-5.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.28 ₱511

$6.52 ₱402

26.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱74.1

$1.21 ₱74.4

-0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$2.32 ₱143

0.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.71

$0.28 ₱17.41

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

$15.00 ₱925

-76.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱50.0

$0.84 ₱51.6

-3.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.44

$0.25 ₱15.45

-52.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 ₱221

$2.69 ₱166

33.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.8

$1.09 ₱67.1

0.92%

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$30.1K ₱1.9M

13.88%

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

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$27.0K ₱1.7M

-20.37%

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

$172 ₱10.6K

$95.4 ₱5,880

80.39%

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

$26.94 ₱1,661

$33.83 ₱2,086

-20.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.49 ₱2,250

$29.78 ₱1,836

22.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 ₱3,452

$32.91 ₱2,029

70.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.79 ₱727

$8.43 ₱520

39.86%

Cinema Ticket

$7.90 ₱487

$5.84 ₱360

35.27%

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

$321 ₱19.8K

$233 ₱14.3K

37.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,538 ₱464.8K

$3,894 ₱240.1K

93.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,717

$53.5 ₱3,297

12.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 ₱2,197

$22.75 ₱1,403

56.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 ₱5,277

$76.7 ₱4,729

11.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,516

$54.5 ₱3,359

123.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$666 ₱41.1K

$515 ₱31.8K

29.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$209 ₱12.9K

86.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 ₱139.4K

$805 ₱49.6K

180.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 ₱63.1K

$397 ₱24.5K

157.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 ₱370.6K

$2,955 ₱182.2K

103.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 ₱237.5K

$1,923 ₱118.6K

100.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 ₱42.0K

$364 ₱22.5K

87.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

-16.63%

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

Last update for Makati: May 30, 2026

Last update for Cebu: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $666 in Makati and $515 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 87% 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: $45.00 in Makati vs $24.00 in Cebu. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $240, with Makati cheaper for home cooking.

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 Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Makati pays 87% more on average, 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: $666 in Makati versus $515 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Makati versus $873 in Cebu – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Cebu runs roughly 319% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $873 in Cebu versus $1,232 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 41% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.