Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Dasmarinas Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Dasmarinas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,199 in Makati versus $546 in Dasmarinas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,015 in Makati versus $990 in Dasmarinas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,831 in Makati versus $1,434 in Dasmarinas.

Living in Makati is roughly 120% more expensive than Dasmarinas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Dasmarinas 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.46 ₱391

$3.51 ₱212

84.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.79 ₱2,650

$13.37 ₱809

227.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.02 ₱304

$2.70 ₱163

85.93%

Cappuccino

$2.98 ₱180

$1.62 ₱98.3

83.95%

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

$1.16 ₱70.3

$0.53 ₱32.21

118.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.17

$0.30 ₱18.40

86.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 ₱149

$1.03 ₱62.6

138.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 ₱209

$1.35 ₱81.8

155.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ₱135

$1.63 ₱98.9

36.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱91.3

$1.10 ₱66.8

37.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.4

$0.84 ₱51.1

26.19%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱135

$1.99 ₱120

12.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.00 ₱484

$5.52 ₱334

44.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 ₱275

$3.84 ₱232

18.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 ₱469

$7.80 ₱472

-0.77%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 ₱272

$2.69 ₱163

66.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₱115

$1.40 ₱84.6

35.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 ₱158

$1.74 ₱105

50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 ₱132

$0.69 ₱41.95

215.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.37 ₱204

$1.04 ₱62.9

224.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₱173

$2.30 ₱139

24.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₱65.4

$0.73 ₱44.29

47.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.2

$0.43 ₱25.77

118.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 ₱174

$2.08 ₱126

38.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.17 ₱494

$9.19 ₱556

-11.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱75.5

$1.07 ₱64.7

16.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱141

$2.37 ₱143

-1.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.18

$0.26 ₱15.69

111.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱217

$4.50 ₱273

-20.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱49.78

$0.87 ₱52.9

-5.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.86

$0.24 ₱14.60

-54.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 ₱218

$2.36 ₱143

52.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱67.0

$1.11 ₱67.4

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

$33.3K ₱2.0M

$32.1K ₱1.9M

3.52%

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

$21.4K ₱1.3M

$20.7K ₱1.3M

3.45%

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

$167 ₱10.1K

$44.14 ₱2,671

278.93%

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

$27.19 ₱1,645

$34.55 ₱2,091

-21.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.64 ₱2,157

$26.15 ₱1,582

36.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.3 ₱3,345

$11.79 ₱713

368.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.94 ₱722

$4.52 ₱274

164.16%

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 ₱469

$5.78 ₱350

34.26%

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

$317 ₱19.2K

$149 ₱9,017

113.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,749 ₱468.9K

$4,807 ₱290.9K

61.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 ₱3,638

$48.47 ₱2,933

24.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.79 ₱2,105

$27.44 ₱1,660

26.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ₱5,128

$75.8 ₱4,585

11.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,479

$46.97 ₱2,842

163.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$668 ₱40.4K

$265 ₱16.0K

152.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 ₱24.4K

$82.8 ₱5,008

387.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,323 ₱140.5K

$592 ₱35.8K

292.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 ₱61.6K

$389 ₱23.5K

161.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,311 ₱381.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,938 ₱238.3K

$407 ₱24.6K

867.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$698 ₱42.2K

$379 ₱22.9K

84.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

6.4

4.22%

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

Last update for Makati: April 19, 2026

Last update for Dasmarinas: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $668 in Makati and $265 in Dasmarinas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 84% 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 $13 in Dasmarinas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $174 per month, with Dasmarinas 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 Dasmarinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Makati and Dasmarinas differ by about 120% in total monthly costs ($1,199 vs $546 including rent). Dasmarinas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Makati pays 84% 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 $265 in Dasmarinas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Dasmarinas runs roughly 26% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $317 in Makati versus $149 in Dasmarinas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $546 in Dasmarinas versus $1,199 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dasmarinas but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Dasmarinas 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 Dasmarinas 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 Dasmarinas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 120% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.