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: $1,237 in Makati versus $728 in Clark Freeport.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Makati versus $1,101 in Clark Freeport.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,474 in Clark Freeport.

Living in Makati is roughly 70% more expensive than in Clark Freeport, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Clark Freeport 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱401

$3.66 ₱229

75.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,495

$16.99 ₱1,059

135.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱286

$2.85 ₱178

60.70%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱162

$2.15 ₱134

20.93%

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

$1.13 ₱70.2

$0.63 ₱39.27

79.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱29.94

$0.31 ₱19.56

54.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱150

$1.09 ₱67.7

121.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱203

$1.84 ₱115

76.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.67 ₱104

16.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.5

$1.11 ₱69.2

10.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.6

$0.96 ₱59.6

11.46%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱154

$1.87 ₱116

32.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱454

$5.35 ₱334

36.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱302

$4.22 ₱263

14.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱431

$6.94 ₱433

-0.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱248

$2.39 ₱149

66.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.54 ₱96.2

29.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱201

$2.39 ₱149

34.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.18 ₱73.7

100.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱215

$2.04 ₱127

69.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱214

$2.01 ₱125

70.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.2

$0.82 ₱51.1

35.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.3

$0.56 ₱34.82

107.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱160

$2.92 ₱182

-11.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱504

$7.82 ₱487

3.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.0

$0.96 ₱60.0

40.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱128

$2.03 ₱126

0.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.3

$0.22 ₱13.73

345.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,609

$11.16 ₱696

418.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.33

$0.83 ₱52.0

-26.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.25 ₱15.69

-8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.90 ₱118

-2.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱73.6

$1.16 ₱72.5

1.72%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.9K ₱1.4M

-0.98%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.1K ₱1.2M

1.51%

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

$154 ₱9,630

$125 ₱7,792

23.59%

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

$16.28 ₱1,015

$14.91 ₱930

9.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,953

$25.01 ₱1,560

25.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,365

$32.62 ₱2,034

65.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱892

$4.84 ₱302

195.66%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱443

$5.24 ₱327

35.50%

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

$783 ₱48.8K

$133 ₱8,286

489.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱459.8K

$8,039 ₱501.3K

-8.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,760

$32.86 ₱2,049

83.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,345

$19.92 ₱1,242

88.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,124

$71.4 ₱4,452

15.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,515

$55.2 ₱3,442

89.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.1K

$270 ₱16.8K

179.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.8K

$170 ₱10.6K

152.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱145.7K

$502 ₱31.3K

365.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱66.8K

$356 ₱22.2K

201.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱370.5K

$2,556 ₱159.4K

132.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱238.0K

$1,054 ₱65.7K

262.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱37.8K

$326 ₱20.3K

86.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

6.75

11.11%

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

Last update for Makati: September 6, 2026

Last update for Clark Freeport: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $755 in Makati and $270 in Clark Freeport. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 86% 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 $17.00 in Clark Freeport for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $178 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 70% in total monthly costs ($1,237 vs $728 including rent). Clark Freeport is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 86% 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: $755 in Makati versus $270 in Clark Freeport. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Clark Freeport – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $40.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,237 per month in Makati versus $728 in Clark Freeport – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $728 in Clark Freeport versus $1,237 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 70% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.