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: $1,199 in Makati versus $762 in Clark Freeport.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,015 in Makati versus $1,201 in Clark Freeport.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,831 in Makati versus $1,640 in Clark Freeport.

Living in Makati is roughly 57% more expensive than Clark Freeport, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Clark Freeport 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.46 ₱391

$3.52 ₱213

83.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.79 ₱2,650

$17.62 ₱1,066

148.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.02 ₱304

$3.32 ₱201

51.20%

Cappuccino

$2.98 ₱180

$2.39 ₱145

24.69%

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

$1.16 ₱70.3

$0.78 ₱47.47

48.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.17

$0.36 ₱21.91

55.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 ₱149

$1.37 ₱82.8

79.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 ₱209

$2.08 ₱126

65.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₱135

$1.91 ₱115

16.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱91.3

$1.26 ₱76.0

19.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.4

$1.01 ₱61.2

4.95%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱135

$2.10 ₱127

6.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.00 ₱484

$7.91 ₱479

1.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 ₱275

$4.30 ₱260

5.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 ₱469

$7.68 ₱465

0.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 ₱272

$3.00 ₱181

49.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₱115

$1.52 ₱92.2

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 ₱158

$2.63 ₱159

-0.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 ₱132

$1.59 ₱96.5

37.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.37 ₱204

$2.32 ₱141

45.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱173

$2.53 ₱153

13.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱65.4

$1.07 ₱64.9

0.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.2

$0.77 ₱46.73

22.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 ₱174

$2.92 ₱176

-1.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.17 ₱494

$8.18 ₱495

-0.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱75.5

$1.21 ₱73.2

3.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱141

$2.04 ₱123

14.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.18

$0.23 ₱13.92

139.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱217

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱49.78

$0.77 ₱46.73

6.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.86

$0.24 ₱14.58

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₱218

$2.19 ₱133

64.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱67.0

$1.10 ₱66.6

0.91%

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

$33.3K ₱2.0M

$26.9K ₱1.6M

23.89%

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

$21.4K ₱1.3M

$20.6K ₱1.2M

4.15%

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

$167 ₱10.1K

$111 ₱6,704

50.97%

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

$27.19 ₱1,645

$32.79 ₱1,984

-17.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.64 ₱2,157

$27.87 ₱1,686

27.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.3 ₱3,345

$34.30 ₱2,076

61.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.94 ₱722

$4.35 ₱263

174.48%

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 ₱469

$5.85 ₱354

32.65%

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

$317 ₱19.2K

$151 ₱9,147

109.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,749 ₱468.9K

$4,315 ₱261.1K

79.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 ₱3,638

$45.62 ₱2,760

31.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.79 ₱2,105

$26.53 ₱1,606

31.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ₱5,128

$76.0 ₱4,599

11.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,479

$53.5 ₱3,237

131.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$668 ₱40.4K

$271 ₱16.4K

146.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.4K

$179 ₱10.9K

124.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,323 ₱140.5K

$577 ₱34.9K

302.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 ₱61.6K

$388 ₱23.5K

162.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,311 ₱381.9K

$2,370 ₱143.4K

166.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,938 ₱238.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$698 ₱42.2K

$330 ₱20.0K

111.66%

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: April 19, 2026

Last update for Clark Freeport: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $668 in Makati and $271 in Clark Freeport. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 112% 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 in Makati vs $18 in Clark Freeport for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $207 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 57% in total monthly costs ($1,199 vs $762 including rent). Clark Freeport is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Makati pays 112% 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: $668 in Makati versus $271 in Clark Freeport. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $317 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 $762 in Clark Freeport versus $1,199 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 57% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.