Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Dumaguete Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Dumaguete

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,188 in Makati versus $852 in Dumaguete.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,011 in Makati versus $1,330 in Dumaguete.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,807 in Dumaguete.

Living in Makati is roughly 39% more expensive than in Dumaguete, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 11% lower, Dumaguete 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 ₱402

$3.25 ₱200

100.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.00 ₱2,770

$14.16 ₱872

217.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₱295

$4.47 ₱275

7.16%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₱181

$2.33 ₱143

26.61%

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

$1.20 ₱73.8

$0.72 ₱44.34

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱35.43

$0.36 ₱22.41

61.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.08 ₱66.4

116.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ₱219

$2.08 ₱128

71.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 ₱132

$1.73 ₱107

23.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱88.1

$1.47 ₱90.2

-2.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.6

$1.02 ₱63.0

8.82%

Eggs

$2.33 ₱144

$2.00 ₱123

16.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱492

$9.83 ₱605

-18.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 ₱279

$5.11 ₱314

-11.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.71 ₱475

$7.69 ₱474

0.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₱279

$1.81 ₱112

150.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$1.38 ₱84.8

43.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$3.97 ₱244

-31.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱141

$1.39 ₱85.4

64.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱212

$2.38 ₱146

44.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$2.52 ₱155

11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₱70.0

$0.92 ₱56.8

23.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱60.7

$0.64 ₱39.50

54.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ₱184

$2.72 ₱167

9.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.01 ₱493

$8.00 ₱493

0.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₱76.9

$1.21 ₱74.6

3.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.96 ₱120

14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ₱31.57

$0.47 ₱28.78

8.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.58 ₱220

$8.96 ₱552

-60.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 ₱47.05

$0.83 ₱50.9

-8.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₱8.20

$0.27 ₱16.79

-51.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ₱212

$0.91 ₱56.3

279.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱71.0

$1.15 ₱70.6

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

$34.1K ₱2.1M

$23.0K ₱1.4M

48.08%

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

$22.0K ₱1.4M

$39.3K ₱2.4M

-43.94%

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

$170 ₱10.4K

$72.3 ₱4,451

134.67%

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

$27.66 ₱1,703

$45.08 ₱2,775

-38.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.79 ₱2,203

$29.31 ₱1,804

22.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 ₱3,371

$23.57 ₱1,451

132.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.03 ₱741

$3.50 ₱215

243.71%

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 ₱505

$6.21 ₱383

32.05%

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

$324 ₱20.0K

$71.3 ₱4,391

354.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,680 ₱472.8K

$1,875 ₱115.4K

309.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ₱3,628

$107 ₱6,588

-44.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 ₱2,209

$35.68 ₱2,197

0.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 ₱5,174

$112 ₱6,908

-25.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ₱7,609

$84.7 ₱5,214

45.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₱40.4K

$239 ₱14.7K

174.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 ₱24.0K

$209 ₱12.9K

87.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 ₱139.9K

$430 ₱26.5K

428.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 ₱62.0K

$421 ₱25.9K

139.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,013 ₱370.2K

$3,056 ₱188.1K

96.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,732 ₱229.8K

$702 ₱43.2K

431.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ₱37.3K

$292 ₱18.0K

107.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

6.5

2.62%

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

Last update for Makati: July 12, 2026

Last update for Dumaguete: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Makati and $239 in Dumaguete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Makati pays 107% 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 $14.00 in Dumaguete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $212 per month, with Dumaguete 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 Dumaguete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Makati and Dumaguete differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($1,188 vs $852 including rent). Dumaguete is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 107% 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 $239 in Dumaguete. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,188 per month in Makati versus $852 in Dumaguete – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dumaguete runs roughly 150% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $852 in Dumaguete versus $1,188 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dumaguete but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Dumaguete the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Makati and Dumaguete 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 Dumaguete gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.