Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Dagupan Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Dagupan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,226 per month in Makati vs $804 in Dagupan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,003 per month in Makati vs $1,178 in Dagupan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,780 per month in Makati vs $1,552 in Dagupan, rent included.

Makati costs about 52% more than Dagupan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Makati and Dagupan are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Dagupan 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$3.16 ₱194

109.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$13.47 ₱824

232.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$4.81 ₱294

-0.83%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.84 ₱174

3.87%

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

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.54 ₱33.14

112.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.26 ₱15.73

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.29 ₱79.2

83.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$2.98 ₱182

21.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$2.11 ₱129

1.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.50 ₱91.7

-4.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$0.84 ₱51.3

26.19%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$2.18 ₱133

7.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$6.31 ₱386

24.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$4.41 ₱270

1.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$7.93 ₱486

-1.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$4.47 ₱273

-0.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.94 ₱119

1.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$2.57 ₱157

0.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.27 ₱77.9

70.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$3.28 ₱201

3.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$2.95 ₱181

-4.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$1.08 ₱66.1

0.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$0.59 ₱36.26

59.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$2.65 ₱162

11.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$5.80 ₱355

36.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$0.94 ₱57.5

30.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$2.18 ₱133

3.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.24 ₱14.77

129.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.68 ₱41.35

13.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.24 ₱14.69

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$3.61 ₱221

0.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.12 ₱68.5

2.68%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$33.2K ₱2.0M

0.53%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$22.1K ₱1.4M

-1.21%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$113 ₱6,922

53.23%

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

$27.42 ₱1,678

$27.00 ₱1,652

1.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$28.72 ₱1,758

26.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$37.61 ₱2,302

46.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

$4.39 ₱269

166.97%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$5.81 ₱356

38.55%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$114 ₱6,976

183.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$4,256 ₱260.5K

81.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$60.6 ₱3,707

-1.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$9.06 ₱554

297.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$84.2 ₱5,156

1.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$50.7 ₱3,102

140.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$227 ₱13.9K

190.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$176 ₱10.7K

122.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$535 ₱32.7K

322.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$292 ₱17.9K

253.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

$483 ₱29.6K

693.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

$243 ₱14.9K

150.78%

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 28, 2026

Last update for Dagupan: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Makati versus $227 in Dagupan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 151% higher in Makati, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Makati versus $13.00 in Dagupan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $211 – making Dagupan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Dagupan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Makati is pricier by about 52%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,840 per month in Makati and $1,206 in Dagupan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dagupan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Makati and $13.00 in Dagupan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Makati, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dagupan, where all-in costs run around $804, than in Makati at $1,226. In Dagupan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dagupan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dagupan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Makati makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.