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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,186 per month in Makati vs $682 in Dipolog, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,004 per month in Makati vs $1,086 in Dipolog, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Makati vs $1,491 in Dipolog, rent included.

Makati costs about 74% more than Dipolog, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Makati and Dipolog are more affordable than the global median – Makati 12% lower, Dipolog 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 ₱415

$1.21 ₱73.5

464.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.54 ₱2,705

$20.91 ₱1,270

113.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ₱296

$3.58 ₱218

36.31%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₱174

$1.97 ₱120

45.69%

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

$1.16 ₱70.4

$0.54 ₱32.59

114.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱32.32

$0.30 ₱18.17

76.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ₱148

$1.01 ₱61.4

141.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 ₱211

$1.80 ₱109

93.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ₱129

$1.85 ₱112

14.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ₱91.4

$1.22 ₱73.9

23.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₱67.7

$0.89 ₱54.0

25.84%

Eggs

$2.25 ₱137

$2.17 ₱132

3.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 ₱488

$5.98 ₱363

34.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 ₱269

$4.11 ₱250

7.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 ₱474

$7.04 ₱427

10.94%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₱274

$3.73 ₱226

20.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₱116

$1.20 ₱72.9

59.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱165

$3.36 ₱204

-19.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱133

$1.61 ₱97.8

36.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₱198

$2.54 ₱155

28.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 ₱178

$3.16 ₱192

-7.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱66.6

$1.60 ₱97.3

-31.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.1

$0.93 ₱56.2

6.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱173

$3.22 ₱196

-11.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.27 ₱502

$4.15 ₱252

99.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₱71.9

$1.29 ₱78.2

-8.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₱141

$1.39 ₱84.2

67.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱30.91

$0.28 ₱17.19

82.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.49 ₱212

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱46.80

$0.68 ₱41.20

13.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱7.76

$0.23 ₱13.93

-43.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 ₱221

$2.61 ₱158

39.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱69.7

$1.07 ₱65.2

7.48%

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

$33.6K ₱2.0M

$24.4K ₱1.5M

37.82%

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

$22.1K ₱1.3M

$19.4K ₱1.2M

13.88%

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

$168 ₱10.2K

$65.5 ₱3,975

157.17%

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

$27.62 ₱1,677

$30.64 ₱1,861

-9.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.63 ₱2,224

$30.17 ₱1,832

21.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 ₱3,428

$33.60 ₱2,040

68.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.69 ₱710

$4.30 ₱261

171.86%

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 ₱471

$4.46 ₱271

73.99%

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

$320 ₱19.4K

$35.33 ₱2,145

805.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,666 ₱465.5K

$4,338 ₱263.4K

76.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 ₱3,554

$45.26 ₱2,748

29.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.71 ₱2,169

$22.67 ₱1,377

57.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 ₱5,231

$61.1 ₱3,707

41.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 ₱7,609

$26.36 ₱1,601

375.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.1K

$263 ₱15.9K

151.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₱23.9K

$180 ₱10.9K

118.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 ₱137.4K

$580 ₱35.2K

290.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 ₱61.2K

$389 ₱23.6K

159.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,121 ₱371.7K

$2,769 ₱168.2K

121.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,737 ₱226.9K

$931 ₱56.5K

301.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$693 ₱42.1K

$248 ₱15.1K

179.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

-16.63%

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

Last update for Makati: June 8, 2026

Last update for Dipolog: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Makati versus $263 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 179% 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 $45.00 in Makati versus $21.00 in Dipolog. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $199 – 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 74% more than Dipolog, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,779 per month in Makati and $1,023 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,186 in Makati and $682 in Dipolog. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $320 per month in Makati and $35.33 in Dipolog. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dipolog, where all-in costs run around $682, than in Makati at $1,186. 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 $682 versus $1,186 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.