Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Davao Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Davao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,188 in Makati versus $835 in Davao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,279 in Davao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,722 in Davao.

Living in Makati is roughly 42% more expensive than in Davao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Davao 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱402

$4.54 ₱279

43.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,770

$23.96 ₱1,475

87.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$4.64 ₱286

3.23%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.06 ₱127

43.20%

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

$1.20 ₱73.8

$0.87 ₱53.3

37.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.43

$0.54 ₱32.95

7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.41 ₱86.5

65.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱219

$1.72 ₱106

106.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.68 ₱103

27.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$1.22 ₱75.0

17.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$0.96 ₱59.4

15.63%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.06 ₱127

13.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱492

$6.20 ₱382

28.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$4.60 ₱283

-1.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$7.43 ₱457

3.77%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱279

$2.88 ₱177

57.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.14 ₱70.4

73.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$2.41 ₱148

12.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.42 ₱87.3

60.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.22 ₱137

55.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$3.15 ₱194

-11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$1.31 ₱80.7

-12.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.7

$0.61 ₱37.28

62.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱184

$2.71 ₱167

10.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱493

$8.29 ₱510

-3.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$1.41 ₱86.6

-11.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.57 ₱96.4

42.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.57

$0.22 ₱13.45

131.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

$14.45 ₱890

-75.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.05

$0.90 ₱55.5

-15.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.20

$0.25 ₱15.47

-48.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.10 ₱129

64.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$1.09 ₱66.9

5.50%

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$22.0K ₱1.4M

54.88%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

4.92%

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

$170 ₱10.4K

$105 ₱6,463

61.62%

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

$27.66 ₱1,703

$33.78 ₱2,080

-18.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,203

$35.75 ₱2,201

0.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,371

$41.25 ₱2,539

32.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

$4.34 ₱267

177.19%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱505

$4.40 ₱271

86.36%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$119 ₱7,315

172.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱472.8K

$7,829 ₱482.0K

-1.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,628

$65.6 ₱4,040

-10.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,209

$29.82 ₱1,836

20.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,174

$77.8 ₱4,792

7.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,609

$69.4 ₱4,273

78.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.4K

$321 ₱19.8K

104.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$183 ₱11.3K

112.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱139.9K

$816 ₱50.2K

178.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.0K

$361 ₱22.2K

179.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

$1,621 ₱99.8K

270.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

$1,447 ₱89.1K

157.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$220 ₱13.5K

175.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

9.56

-30.23%

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

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for Davao: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $321 in Davao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 176% 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 $24.00 in Davao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $195 per month, with Davao 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 Davao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Davao is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 176% 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: $657 in Makati versus $321 in Davao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Davao – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $45.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,188 per month in Makati versus $835 in Davao – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $835 in Davao versus $1,188 in Makati, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Davao but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Davao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Davao is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Makati, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Makati and Davao 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 Davao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.