Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Cotabato City Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Cotabato City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,237 in Makati versus $754 in Cotabato City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Makati versus $1,149 in Cotabato City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,544 in Cotabato City.

Living in Makati is roughly 64% more expensive than in Cotabato City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Cotabato City 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱401

$4.92 ₱307

30.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,495

$16.52 ₱1,030

142.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱286

$4.11 ₱256

11.44%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱162

$2.15 ₱134

20.93%

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

$1.13 ₱70.2

$1.08 ₱67.6

4.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱29.94

$0.70 ₱43.73

-31.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱150

$1.13 ₱70.5

113.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱203

$1.89 ₱118

71.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$2.04 ₱127

-4.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.5

$1.09 ₱68.2

12.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.6

$0.83 ₱51.7

28.92%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱154

$1.94 ₱121

27.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱454

$6.87 ₱429

5.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱302

$4.16 ₱259

16.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱431

$8.49 ₱530

-18.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱248

$2.62 ₱163

51.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.13 ₱70.2

76.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱201

$2.31 ₱144

39.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$1.20 ₱75.0

97.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱215

$2.14 ₱134

61.21%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱214

$3.48 ₱217

-1.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.2

$1.19 ₱74.5

-6.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.3

$0.68 ₱42.37

70.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱160

$2.55 ₱159

0.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱504

$7.93 ₱495

1.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.0

$1.30 ₱80.9

3.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱128

$1.59 ₱99.0

28.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.3

$0.25 ₱15.46

292.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,609

$11.14 ₱695

419.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.33

$0.82 ₱50.9

-25.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.23 ₱14.24

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.90 ₱118

-2.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱73.6

$1.17 ₱73.1

0.85%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.6K ₱1.3M

0.03%

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

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.0K ₱1.2M

2.27%

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

$154 ₱9,630

$108 ₱6,720

43.30%

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

$16.28 ₱1,015

$19.17 ₱1,195

-15.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,953

$31.98 ₱1,994

-2.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,365

$32.42 ₱2,021

66.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱892

$4.93 ₱308

190.26%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱443

$4.86 ₱303

46.09%

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

$783 ₱48.8K

$109 ₱6,783

620.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱459.8K

$7,655 ₱477.3K

-3.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,760

$32.37 ₱2,019

86.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,345

$19.46 ₱1,214

93.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,124

$71.7 ₱4,470

14.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,515

$61.7 ₱3,845

69.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.1K

$269 ₱16.8K

180.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.8K

$175 ₱10.9K

145.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱145.7K

$505 ₱31.5K

362.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱66.8K

$358 ₱22.3K

199.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱370.5K

$2,636 ₱164.4K

125.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱238.0K

$1,030 ₱64.2K

270.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱37.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

8.31

-9.75%

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

Last update for Makati: September 6, 2026

Last update for Cotabato City: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $755 in Makati and $269 in Cotabato City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $17.00 in Cotabato City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $196 per month, with Cotabato City 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 Cotabato City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cotabato City wins on cost – living expenses run 64% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cotabato City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,855 in Makati and $1,131 in Cotabato City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $755 in Makati versus $269 in Cotabato City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,237 per month in Makati versus $754 in Cotabato City – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Cotabato City runs roughly 420% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $754 in Cotabato City versus $1,237 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cotabato City but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Cotabato City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Cotabato City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $754 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cotabato City hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Cotabato City 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 Cotabato City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.