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: $1,226 in Makati versus $540 in Dasmarinas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,003 in Makati versus $967 in Dasmarinas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,780 in Makati versus $1,395 in Dasmarinas.

Living in Makati is roughly 127% more expensive than in Dasmarinas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Dasmarinas 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$3.47 ₱213

90.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$13.24 ₱810

237.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$2.61 ₱160

82.76%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$1.57 ₱96.3

87.90%

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

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.58 ₱35.63

98.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.33 ₱20.34

57.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$1.05 ₱64.2

125.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$1.32 ₱80.8

173.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.59 ₱97.3

35.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.11 ₱68.2

29.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$0.85 ₱51.9

24.71%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$2.02 ₱124

16.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$5.65 ₱346

39.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$3.86 ₱236

16.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$8.11 ₱497

-3.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$2.62 ₱160

69.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.45 ₱88.7

35.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$1.72 ₱105

50.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$0.68 ₱41.92

219.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$1.09 ₱66.5

212.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$2.24 ₱137

25.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$0.67 ₱40.92

62.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$0.46 ₱27.97

104.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$2.09 ₱128

41.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$9.08 ₱556

-13.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$1.08 ₱65.8

13.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$2.27 ₱139

-0.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.26 ₱15.75

111.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

$4.46 ₱273

-18.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.90 ₱55.1

-14.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.22 ₱13.43

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$2.37 ₱145

52.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.11 ₱68.2

3.60%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$31.4K ₱1.9M

6.39%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$20.1K ₱1.2M

8.79%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$43.55 ₱2,666

297.91%

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

$27.42 ₱1,678

$34.36 ₱2,103

-20.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$25.77 ₱1,578

41.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$11.83 ₱724

364.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

$4.54 ₱278

158.15%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$5.63 ₱345

42.98%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$153 ₱9,379

110.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$4,640 ₱284.0K

66.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$48.00 ₱2,938

24.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$27.89 ₱1,707

29.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$76.0 ₱4,652

12.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$46.13 ₱2,823

164.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$269 ₱16.5K

144.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$85.2 ₱5,217

357.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$595 ₱36.4K

279.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$388 ₱23.8K

165.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

$387 ₱23.7K

890.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

$370 ₱22.6K

64.89%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Dasmarinas: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $660 in Makati and $269 in Dasmarinas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 65% 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: $45.00 in Makati vs $13.00 in Dasmarinas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $175 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 127% in total monthly costs ($1,226 vs $540 including rent). Dasmarinas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 65% 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: $660 in Makati versus $269 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 23% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $323 in Makati versus $153 in Dasmarinas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $540 in Dasmarinas versus $1,226 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 127% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.