Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Clark Freeport Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Clark Freeport

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,221 in Makati versus $790 in Clark Freeport.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,007 in Makati versus $1,212 in Clark Freeport.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,792 in Makati versus $1,634 in Clark Freeport.

Living in Makati is roughly 55% more expensive than in Clark Freeport, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 9% lower, Clark Freeport 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.78 ₱418

$3.53 ₱218

92.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.52 ₱2,686

$17.84 ₱1,101

143.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 ₱299

$3.29 ₱203

47.11%

Cappuccino

$2.82 ₱174

$2.42 ₱150

16.53%

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

$1.21 ₱74.4

$0.77 ₱47.29

57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.49

$0.39 ₱24.08

35.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱145

$1.31 ₱80.6

79.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₱224

$2.19 ₱135

65.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.85 ₱114

15.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱93.2

$1.21 ₱74.7

24.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.8

$0.95 ₱58.9

16.84%

Eggs

$2.36 ₱146

$2.05 ₱127

15.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.80 ₱482

$8.22 ₱507

-5.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 ₱281

$4.36 ₱269

4.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 ₱472

$7.54 ₱466

1.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₱278

$2.89 ₱178

56.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₱118

$1.52 ₱93.8

25.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.63 ₱162

-0.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.61 ₱99.7

39.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 ₱204

$2.31 ₱143

42.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 ₱183

$2.61 ₱161

13.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱67.2

$1.12 ₱69.3

-2.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱59.2

$0.71 ₱43.73

35.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱176

$2.79 ₱172

2.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.16 ₱503

$8.02 ₱495

1.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱76.0

$1.16 ₱71.6

6.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₱137

$1.97 ₱122

12.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₱31.95

$0.23 ₱14.21

126.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.35

$0.82 ₱50.3

-6.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.85

$0.22 ₱13.52

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 ₱216

$2.16 ₱134

62.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.7

$1.14 ₱70.4

0.88%

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

$34.3K ₱2.1M

$26.8K ₱1.7M

27.87%

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

$21.9K ₱1.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

8.45%

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

$167 ₱10.3K

$115 ₱7,073

45.49%

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

$27.16 ₱1,677

$33.29 ₱2,055

-18.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.97 ₱2,221

$27.42 ₱1,693

31.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ₱3,429

$34.53 ₱2,132

60.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.78 ₱727

$4.30 ₱266

173.95%

Cinema Ticket

$7.83 ₱483

$5.83 ₱360

34.31%

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

$325 ₱20.1K

$151 ₱9,312

115.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,695 ₱475.0K

$4,304 ₱265.7K

78.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ₱3,689

$45.65 ₱2,818

30.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.65 ₱2,201

$26.70 ₱1,648

33.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 ₱5,345

$75.5 ₱4,662

14.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 ₱7,566

$52.1 ₱3,218

135.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$644 ₱39.7K

$266 ₱16.4K

142.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 ₱24.2K

$176 ₱10.9K

121.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,243 ₱138.5K

$598 ₱36.9K

275.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 ₱62.8K

$396 ₱24.4K

157.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,002 ₱370.5K

$2,433 ₱150.2K

146.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,756 ₱231.9K

$1,080 ₱66.7K

247.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$608 ₱37.5K

$318 ₱19.6K

91.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

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

Last update for Makati: July 19, 2026

Last update for Clark Freeport: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $644 in Makati and $266 in Clark Freeport. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 91% 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: $44.00 in Makati vs $18.00 in Clark Freeport for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $205 per month, with Clark Freeport 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 Clark Freeport: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Makati and Clark Freeport differ by about 55% in total monthly costs ($1,221 vs $790 including rent). Clark Freeport is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 91% 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: $644 in Makati versus $266 in Clark Freeport. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $325 in Makati versus $151 in Clark Freeport. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Clark Freeport – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $44.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $790 in Clark Freeport versus $1,221 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Clark Freeport but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Clark Freeport the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Makati and Clark Freeport 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 Clark Freeport gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.