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 $497 in Dasmarinas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Makati versus $734 in Dasmarinas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,783 in Makati versus $972 in Dasmarinas.

Living in Makati is roughly 147% more expensive than in Dasmarinas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Dasmarinas 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱406

$4.01 ₱252

61.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,527

$16.93 ₱1,062

137.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.75 ₱172

70.91%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$1.83 ₱115

44.81%

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

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.60 ₱37.85

85.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.42

$0.30 ₱19.08

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$1.01 ₱63.3

132.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$1.61 ₱101

98.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.37 ₱86.1

39.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.6

$1.15 ₱71.9

11.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$0.68 ₱42.67

54.41%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$1.79 ₱113

38.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱438

$5.18 ₱325

34.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$3.37 ₱212

43.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$4.50 ₱283

50.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$2.19 ₱138

88.13%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.53 ₱95.7

30.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$2.39 ₱150

33.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.02 ₱64.0

123.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$1.68 ₱106

109.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$1.73 ₱108

107.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.3

$0.66 ₱41.16

66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.7

$0.53 ₱33.43

115.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.99 ₱188

-14.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$8.91 ₱559

-10.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$0.96 ₱59.9

37.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$2.04 ₱128

-0.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,613

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.14

$0.83 ₱52.0

-19.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.15

$0.25 ₱15.69

-16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.0

$0.95 ₱59.7

30.53%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.7K ₱1.4M

-2.56%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

2.56%

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

$152 ₱9,541

$47.94 ₱3,007

217.31%

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

$16.13 ₱1,012

$17.45 ₱1,094

-7.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,984

$23.62 ₱1,481

33.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,416

$33.48 ₱2,100

62.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$5.21 ₱327

33.40%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$134 ₱8,427

497.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.5K

$10.9K ₱681.7K

-31.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,755

$28.56 ₱1,791

109.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,352

$19.51 ₱1,223

92.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,130

$71.1 ₱4,460

15.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,544

$54.7 ₱3,433

90.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$48.23 ₱3,025

789.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

$353 ₱22.1K

73.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

6.4

17.19%

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

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Last update for Dasmarinas: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Makati pays 73% 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 Dasmarinas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $160 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 147% in total monthly costs ($1,226 vs $497 including rent). Dasmarinas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 73% higher in Makati, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $803 in Makati versus $134 in Dasmarinas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Dasmarinas – 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.

At $497 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 147% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.