Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Dipolog Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Dipolog

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,226 per month in Makati vs $614 in Dipolog, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,005 per month in Makati vs $839 in Dipolog, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,783 per month in Makati vs $1,065 in Dipolog, rent included.

Makati costs about 100% more than Dipolog, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Makati and Dipolog are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Dipolog 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱407

$1.38 ₱86.4

368.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,531

$19.31 ₱1,213

108.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$2.75 ₱173

70.91%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$2.00 ₱126

32.50%

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

$1.11 ₱69.8

$0.69 ₱43.43

60.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.47

$0.27 ₱16.88

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$1.06 ₱66.7

121.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$1.70 ₱107

88.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.61 ₱101

18.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.7

$0.78 ₱48.74

64.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.8

$0.83 ₱52.2

26.51%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱156

$1.96 ₱123

26.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱439

$5.86 ₱368

19.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱305

$3.96 ₱249

22.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱425

$5.47 ₱344

23.77%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱259

$1.56 ₱97.8

164.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱126

$1.08 ₱67.9

85.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱201

$2.97 ₱186

7.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.45 ₱91.0

57.24%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$1.87 ₱118

88.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$2.80 ₱176

28.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.4

$1.40 ₱87.8

-21.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.8

$0.61 ₱38.25

86.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$2.94 ₱185

-12.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱502

$4.05 ₱255

97.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.9

$1.11 ₱69.7

18.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.31 ₱82.4

54.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.6

$0.27 ₱17.11

262.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,619

$11.16 ₱701

416.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.21

$0.70 ₱43.74

-4.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.17

$0.34 ₱21.34

-38.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱118

$2.35 ₱148

-20.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.1

$0.93 ₱58.7

33.33%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

-1.47%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

1.71%

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

$152 ₱9,557

$63.5 ₱3,990

139.56%

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

$16.13 ₱1,014

$7.97 ₱501

102.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,987

$24.29 ₱1,526

30.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,422

$31.52 ₱1,980

72.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱908

$4.85 ₱305

197.94%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱437

$4.72 ₱297

47.25%

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

$803 ₱50.4K

$31.33 ₱1,968

2462.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱468.3K

$8,141 ₱511.5K

-8.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,761

$32.16 ₱2,021

86.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,356

$19.45 ₱1,222

92.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,139

$56.6 ₱3,556

44.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,555

$23.87 ₱1,499

337.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.3K

$162 ₱10.2K

365.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱27.0K

$171 ₱10.8K

150.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱143.2K

$500 ₱31.4K

355.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.2K

$134 ₱8,399

688.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱368.5K

$2,582 ₱162.2K

127.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱235.3K

$1,055 ₱66.3K

255.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

$238 ₱14.9K

156.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

7.33

2.32%

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

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Last update for Dipolog: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $752 in Makati versus $162 in Dipolog. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 157% higher in Makati, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Makati versus $19.00 in Dipolog. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $163 – making Dipolog the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Dipolog: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Makati costs about 100% more than Dipolog, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,840 per month in Makati and $921 in Dipolog. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dipolog, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Makati and $31.33 in Dipolog. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% more in Makati, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dipolog, where all-in costs run around $614, than in Makati at $1,226. In Dipolog it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dipolog costs $614 versus $1,226 in Makati. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dipolog. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Makati makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.