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 $682 in Dipolog, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,003 per month in Makati vs $1,078 in Dipolog, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,780 per month in Makati vs $1,473 in Dipolog, rent included.

Makati costs about 80% more than Dipolog, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Makati and Dipolog are more affordable than the global median – Makati 8% lower, Dipolog 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 ₱405

$1.22 ₱74.8

441.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.73 ₱2,738

$21.56 ₱1,319

107.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₱292

$3.57 ₱219

33.61%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.07 ₱127

42.51%

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

$1.15 ₱70.7

$0.53 ₱32.66

116.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.00

$0.32 ₱19.68

62.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 ₱145

$0.98 ₱60.3

141.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ₱221

$1.72 ₱106

109.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ₱131

$1.88 ₱115

14.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.3

$1.22 ₱74.7

18.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$0.87 ₱53.4

21.84%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱144

$2.18 ₱133

7.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 ₱482

$5.76 ₱353

36.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 ₱274

$4.25 ₱260

5.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 ₱477

$6.90 ₱422

13.04%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 ₱271

$3.70 ₱226

19.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₱121

$1.15 ₱70.6

71.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 ₱159

$3.38 ₱207

-23.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ₱133

$1.62 ₱99.3

33.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 ₱209

$2.63 ₱161

29.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 ₱172

$3.11 ₱191

-9.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$1.64 ₱100

-33.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₱57.4

$0.85 ₱52.1

10.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₱180

$3.25 ₱199

-9.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 ₱483

$4.13 ₱253

91.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₱75.3

$1.32 ₱80.9

-6.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱137

$1.40 ₱85.9

60.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₱33.97

$0.26 ₱15.84

111.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.63 ₱222

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.41

$0.70 ₱42.71

10.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 ₱6.82

$0.25 ₱15.39

-56.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ₱221

$2.71 ₱166

33.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.3

$1.04 ₱63.7

10.58%

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

$33.4K ₱2.0M

$24.1K ₱1.5M

38.38%

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

$21.9K ₱1.3M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

13.55%

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

$173 ₱10.6K

$64.8 ₱3,965

167.55%

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

$27.42 ₱1,678

$31.77 ₱1,945

-13.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 ₱2,225

$30.69 ₱1,879

18.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 ₱3,367

$34.29 ₱2,099

60.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 ₱717

$4.39 ₱269

166.97%

Cinema Ticket

$8.05 ₱493

$4.33 ₱265

85.91%

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

$323 ₱19.8K

$36.05 ₱2,207

796.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,720 ₱472.6K

$4,250 ₱260.2K

81.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 ₱3,653

$45.52 ₱2,786

31.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 ₱2,203

$22.69 ₱1,389

58.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₱5,235

$61.1 ₱3,739

40.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₱7,474

$26.44 ₱1,619

361.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 ₱40.4K

$271 ₱16.6K

143.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱23.9K

$180 ₱11.0K

116.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,259 ₱138.3K

$586 ₱35.9K

285.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₱63.2K

$401 ₱24.5K

157.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,059 ₱370.9K

$2,255 ₱138.0K

168.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,835 ₱234.7K

$1,081 ₱66.2K

254.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱37.3K

$245 ₱15.0K

148.97%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Dipolog: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $660 in Makati versus $271 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 149% 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 $22.00 in Dipolog. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $198 – 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 80% 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 $1,840 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 $1,226 in Makati and $682 in Dipolog. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $323 per month in Makati and $36.05 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 $1,226. 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 $682 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.