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: $1,228 in Makati versus $805 in Davao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Makati versus $1,239 in Davao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Makati versus $1,672 in Davao.

Living in Makati is roughly 52% more expensive than in Davao, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Davao 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 ₱411

$4.95 ₱310

32.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.99 ₱2,504

$26.82 ₱1,680

49.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 ₱288

$3.98 ₱249

15.33%

Cappuccino

$2.76 ₱173

$2.71 ₱170

1.85%

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

$1.07 ₱67.3

$1.10 ₱68.9

-2.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.21

$0.69 ₱43.37

-34.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ₱151

$1.63 ₱102

48.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱203

$2.34 ₱146

38.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ₱115

$1.94 ₱121

-5.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 ₱80.7

$1.10 ₱68.7

17.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱64.4

$0.91 ₱57.1

13.19%

Eggs

$2.38 ₱149

$1.93 ₱121

23.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 ₱458

$6.91 ₱433

5.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 ₱303

$4.24 ₱266

14.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.19 ₱450

$8.40 ₱526

-14.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱249

$2.67 ₱167

49.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.07 ₱67.0

89.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 ₱204

$2.28 ₱143

42.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.31 ₱144

$1.16 ₱72.7

99.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 ₱217

$2.11 ₱132

64.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.47 ₱217

$3.54 ₱222

-1.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₱70.1

$1.19 ₱74.5

-5.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₱69.5

$0.66 ₱41.13

68.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 ₱169

$2.42 ₱152

11.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.86 ₱492

$7.93 ₱497

-0.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₱87.5

$1.24 ₱77.7

12.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱130

$1.58 ₱98.7

31.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₱56.2

$0.33 ₱20.59

172.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.3 ₱3,586

$13.43 ₱841

326.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.15

$0.83 ₱51.7

-26.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.12

$0.23 ₱14.32

-8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

$1.90 ₱119

-1.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₱78.4

$1.16 ₱72.4

7.76%

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

$21.3K ₱1.3M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

0.27%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

2.35%

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

$154 ₱9,625

$106 ₱6,654

44.67%

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

$15.78 ₱988

$18.90 ₱1,183

-16.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.11 ₱2,011

$30.97 ₱1,939

3.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 ₱3,418

$35.64 ₱2,232

53.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.41 ₱902

$3.63 ₱227

296.97%

Cinema Ticket

$7.39 ₱463

$4.94 ₱309

49.60%

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

$790 ₱49.5K

$107 ₱6,685

639.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,405 ₱463.7K

$7,664 ₱479.9K

-3.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ₱3,746

$62.3 ₱3,901

-3.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.65 ₱2,357

$26.84 ₱1,681

40.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,144

$71.2 ₱4,458

15.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 ₱6,477

$61.9 ₱3,873

67.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$748 ₱46.9K

$282 ₱17.6K

165.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$430 ₱26.9K

$169 ₱10.6K

153.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,276 ₱142.5K

$631 ₱39.5K

260.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 ₱67.6K

$327 ₱20.5K

230.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,003 ₱375.9K

$1,618 ₱101.3K

271.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,832 ₱239.9K

$1,423 ₱89.1K

169.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.2K

$210 ₱13.1K

190.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

8.31

-9.75%

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

Last update for Makati: August 31, 2026

Last update for Davao: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $748 in Makati and $282 in Davao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 191% 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 $27.00 in Davao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 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, Getting Around. The 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 191% 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: $748 in Makati versus $282 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 $27.00 versus $40.00 in Makati. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,228 per month in Makati versus $805 in Davao – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $805 in Davao versus $1,228 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 52% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.