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: $1,223 in Makati versus $555 in Dasmarinas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,017 in Makati versus $974 in Dasmarinas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,812 in Makati versus $1,393 in Dasmarinas.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 8% lower, Dasmarinas 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.85 ₱414

$3.58 ₱216

91.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.09 ₱2,669

$13.40 ₱812

229.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ₱301

$2.64 ₱160

88.26%

Cappuccino

$2.96 ₱179

$1.57 ₱94.9

88.54%

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

$1.15 ₱69.5

$0.53 ₱32.26

116.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₱34.64

$0.33 ₱20.20

72.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ₱141

$1.04 ₱62.8

123.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 ₱214

$1.31 ₱79.5

170.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₱131

$1.60 ₱96.9

35.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱90.3

$1.06 ₱64.1

40.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.5

$0.85 ₱51.7

24.71%

Eggs

$2.22 ₱135

$1.99 ₱121

11.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 ₱500

$5.69 ₱345

45.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱267

$3.72 ₱225

18.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 ₱457

$8.02 ₱485

-5.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 ₱276

$2.68 ₱163

70.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₱115

$1.41 ₱85.2

34.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱164

$1.80 ₱109

50.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱131

$0.70 ₱42.13

210.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.31 ₱200

$1.03 ₱62.5

221.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱170

$2.23 ₱135

26.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱65.8

$0.73 ₱44.24

49.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱61.6

$0.43 ₱25.82

137.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱181

$2.14 ₱130

39.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.52 ₱516

$9.08 ₱550

-6.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱75.6

$1.07 ₱65.0

16.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₱139

$2.37 ₱143

-3.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.02

$0.28 ₱17.03

96.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.57 ₱216

$4.31 ₱261

-17.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱47.06

$0.86 ₱52.1

-9.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.12 ₱7.10

$0.24 ₱14.54

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 ₱210

$2.33 ₱141

49.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.8

$1.11 ₱67.1

3.60%

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

$33.5K ₱2.0M

$32.2K ₱1.9M

4.26%

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

$21.7K ₱1.3M

$20.1K ₱1.2M

8.12%

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

$169 ₱10.2K

$43.24 ₱2,618

290.75%

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

$26.89 ₱1,628

$34.85 ₱2,110

-22.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.15 ₱2,189

$26.41 ₱1,599

36.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.4 ₱3,356

$11.67 ₱707

375.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱707

$4.32 ₱262

170.60%

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 ₱480

$5.65 ₱342

40.35%

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

$324 ₱19.6K

$153 ₱9,233

112.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,613 ₱460.9K

$4,719 ₱285.7K

61.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 ₱3,584

$48.98 ₱2,965

20.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.26 ₱2,135

$27.53 ₱1,667

28.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 ₱5,215

$76.5 ₱4,632

12.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,414

$46.91 ₱2,840

161.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$661 ₱40.0K

$265 ₱16.0K

149.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ₱24.0K

$85.3 ₱5,163

364.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,254 ₱136.5K

$589 ₱35.7K

282.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,023 ₱61.9K

$402 ₱24.3K

154.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,076 ₱367.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,885 ₱235.2K

$392 ₱23.7K

891.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$706 ₱42.7K

$379 ₱22.9K

86.18%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Dasmarinas: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $661 in Makati and $265 in Dasmarinas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 86% 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: $44.00 in Makati vs $13.00 in Dasmarinas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 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 ($1,223 vs $555 including rent). Dasmarinas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 86% 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: $661 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 21% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $324 in Makati versus $153 in Dasmarinas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $555 in Dasmarinas versus $1,223 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.